Off The Hook

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday August 16, 2000

From SHARON MATHIESON

PARRAMATTA playmaker Jim Dymock was exonerated of a dangerous throw last night, despite admitting he lifted Penrith opposite Craig Gower during a tackle in Saturday's NRL semi-final.

The Eels veteran is now free to lead his young team into battle against Brisbane in Sunday's grand-final qualifier at Stadium Australia.

Dymock admitted to holding Gower around the groin area, but testified that he released his grip as soon as he realised he was reaching a dangerous point.

`My hand slid right up his leg and, when I felt his testicles, I withdrew,' Dymock said.

Dymock was facing a four-match suspension from the game if the three-man panel found him guilty of a grade-one dangerous throw.

Dymock's counsel, Bernie Gross, QC, attempted to shift the blame onto team-mate Dennis Moran, who was also involved in the tackle, although he clearly did not grab Gower around the groin or lift him.

Gross described Moran's actions as `classic throwing', saying it was his tackle that caused Gower to lose balance and dive into the ground.

`It's a bit like a plane landing without its wheels down. That's how he ended up,' Gross said.

Gower appeared to do plenty to help Dymock's cause, admitting to the judiciary he took a dive.

`I sort of dived backwards to get a penalty, but I didn't get one,' Gower told the judiciary via telephone.

Judiciary commissioner Jim Hall asked Gower if he often milked penalties. `Only in semi-finals,' Gower answered.

Outside the judiciary, Dymock took a swipe at Canberra coach Mal Meninga, who earlier called for consistency after three Raiders were suspended for spear tackles.

`I'm just happy that the panel was happy with the tackle and I hope Mal's happy with it now too,' he said. More league, Pages 91-93