Raiders halfback Todd Carney hopes the NRL judiciary lets St George-Illawarra forward Jarrod Saffy off a biting charge, despite the alleged incident leaving him with several tooth marks and a bruise on his right forearm.
The match review committee is likely today to send Saffy straight to the judiciary, while Raiders hooker Lincoln Withers faces a nervous wait to see if he is cited after being placed on report for a late challenge on Dragons halfback Jamie Soward.
The Raiders are hoping the match review commitee takes action over a Colin Best tackle that left the Raiders winger so dazed he played the ball backwards.
Carney gave Saffy the benefit of the doubt yesterday over the first-half biting incident, which he labelled a "dog act" on Saturday night.
Saffy faces a long stint on the sidelines if found guilty of biting, a charge that cost Bulldogs forward Brad Morrin eight weeks last year.Carney went straight to referee Gavin Badger after the incident, which occurred as he was tackling Saffy.
Badger duly placed Saffy on report, but declined to give the Raiders a penalty.
"He's done it in the heat of battle and I've reacted in the heat of battle," Carney said.
"It's got to be said that if you get bitten you say something. But at the end of the day I don't want to see the poor bloke get crucified for it, because it's just something he's done in the heat of battle.
"It's not going to put me out for any time, so hopefully he doesn't get any time himself."
If Saffy is charged, Carney will be called upon to give evidence at the hearing.
Raiders coach Neil Henry said he hoped his playmaker would be able to appear before the tribunal via video link, to avoid any disruptions in the lead-up to Saturday night's clash with the Titans on the Gold Coast.
Henry said biting had no place in rugby league.
"It's one of those things where if the player feels strongly about it at the time, they've got every rightto say they were bitten," Henry said."Some players leave it on the field and think it was minor and don't go on with it.
"But it's a part of the game we don't want to see and I'm sure Todd is genuine in his complaint."
Canberra Times
