Quote Stu M="Stu M"Wellens take on it...
We got a phone call from the Match Review Panel on Monday that Morgan Knowles had been charge with a Grade D,” Wellens said.
“What I would say in this situation is no coach or player wants players to suffer injuries but injuries are part and parcel of the sport. Ours is a collision sport and things can go wrong at times.
“I know Morgan Knowles as a person and how tough he plays the game and how honest a person is. He doesn’t go out on the field to injure players.
“I came off Twitter 12 months ago now for good reason, rugby league is about opinion and everyone has them. What social media does is it gives everyone a platform to share that opinion.
In the build up to when we are facing a tribunal it is important that it doesn’t become trial by social media.”
Wellens also revealed that Knowles is disappointed to hear of Cooper’s injury.
“Morgan is disappointed that a player is injured, he doesn’t go out on the field to injure an opponent. Morgan is disappointed with the situation that he finds himself in. Mike is a player I really like and have respected him for a long time.”
On the incident itself, Wellens didn’t go into detail.
We got the charge sheet and at this stage with the tribunal to follow, I can’t really say too much and let that process take its course,” Wellens continued.
“Should we need to comment after it then we will but with the process still ongoing, I think it’s better I say very little.”'"
There's very little else he can say until the actual hearing, as no doubt he will be there for character reference or worst case in an appeal scenario. if he says too much now, its likely to have an influence which he's trying to stay clear of
for whats its worth, and i think all coaches should do the same if they havent, he's done the best thing coming off social media. the chances of getting wound up by an oppo fan is all too easy, and possibly costly to a coach given that many fans want their opinion but cry like babies when someone comes back at them
reading between the lines too, he got away with one before the grand final last year, and ended another player season the week before with the same tackle technique **edit i'd seen a video and thought it was last week, but McGillvary was last season **, so Saints are expecting a hefty ban, but hopeful the he's a good egg keeps it down to 2-3 matches
