BULLDOGS pair Luke Turner and Nathan Chappell have been cleared to play in next weekends preliminary final after being handed down suspended sentences on Wednesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Turner was handed down a four week suspended sentence until the end of 2015 and Chappell was given a two week suspended sentence also until the end of the 2015 season.
It means, although cleared, the pair will have to behave themselves until the sentence is over.
“We were always hoping for a suspended sentence or a caution, especially after a couple of other blokes had been in with similar things and have gotten away with it,” Chappell told the Post yesterday.
“But it was always in the back of our minds that we could miss one or two games. It was not a good feeling at all going into it.”
Bulldogs president Joe Stephens said Turner and Chappel supported their appeal to the judiciary with video evidence, a referees report, as well as with the help of local police prosecutor Chris Toole who represented the pair.
“I think if he hadn’t have come down and helped us like he did we might have been in a bit of trouble,” Chappell said.
“He spoke for us and represented us and he knew exactly what to say. I think he put doubt in the minds of the referees and touch judges, and he sort of grilled them a bit.”
Coach Michael Picker said the team can now focus on preparing for their elimination final.
“We had guys who could have done the job, but it takes away the disruption from the team when you have different fellas coming in,” he said.
“So we’re happy they got off, but they have to behave themselves now.”
The West Belconnen Warriors John Papalii and Bobby Roberts will meet with the judiciary next Wednesday.
“I feel pretty good about it (the result). In all honesty I didn’t think it was a send –off offence. But it was what it was,” Luke Turner said.