Suspended Tumbarumba captain-coach Aaron Sweeney has been denied an appeal by Country Rugby League (CRL) after he was handed a 12-month ban.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The prop pleaded guilty to a contrary conduct charge for effectively bringing the game into disrepute following his actions during Tumbarumba’s game against Junee in May.
After being sin binned late in the Greens clash, Sweeney is alleged to have ripped an iron bar from the dressing sheds and brandished it at Diesels supporters.
Sweeney has not returned calls from The Daily Advertiser since the incident but those claims were denied by Tumbarumba secretary Chris Rynehart.
Rynehart refused to comment about the incident or the appeal on Monday but did say Sweeney had given notice at work and is returning to Sydney.
Sweeney attempted to appeal the severity of his suspension to CRL but he was denied the opportunity.
CRL operations manager Robert Lowrie said the CRL appeals review board were not satisfied Sweeney had good prospects of success.
“The basis of the appeal application was the severity of the penalty and the impact the penalty would have on the player’s career and future coaching prospects,” Lowrie said.
“Group Nine’s management committee, the body that heard the original case, confirmed to the CRL appeals review committee that the impact on the player’s career and future coaching were considered and understood when deliberating on the penalty.
“Further, it was noted the Group Nine management committee gave the Player credit for his guilty plea.”
Lowrie backed Group Nine’s stance regarding the matter stating that stakeholders are entitled to believe they can play, spectate, officiate and generally enjoy rugby league in a safe environment to appeal.
The appeal was Sweeney’s last chance to alter the suspension.
It ends a turbulent three years for Sweeney at Tumbarumba.
The prop played lower grades with five NRL clubs but often found himself on the end of the referee’s whistle due to his aggressive playing style.
Sweeney fronted the Group Nine judiciary last August over a similar charge, but was found not guilty of behaving in a way contrary to the true spirit of the game in an incident with referee Sam Went that was deemed “unavoidable”.