Abstract
In March 2008, Brisbane Broncos rugby league fullback, Karmichael Hunt was charged by the National Rugby League (NRL) judiciary with a Grade 3 careless high tackle. The charge resulted from an 18th minute collision between Hunt and Braith Anasta (Sydney Roosters five-eighth) during their Round 2 NRL match at the Sydney Football Stadium. Hunt would be suspended for a minimum of one week if found guilty by the judiciary. At the time, the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club had not won a single NRL judiciary case for 14 years. This case study documents the scientific arguments presented as expert evidence in this case. The scientific defence focused on 3 key elements: (1) the height that the ball-carrier (Anasta) had fallen at the moment of impact, (2) the time for Hunt to make a decision and respond to the movements of the ball-carrier, and (3) the body position of the defending player (Hunt). Karmichael Hunt was found not guilty by the NRL judiciary panel, and was free to play in the following week's fixture. The judiciary panel agreed that the collision between Hunt and Anasta was neither deliberate nor avoidable. This case study reports the evidence presented in a high profile NRL judiciary case and documents the practical utility of sport science in football judiciary cases.
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