Former Canterbury Bulldogs and current St George Illawarra player Kyle Flanagan. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The NRL judiciary has suspended St George Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan for four matches after finding him guilty of biting Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton.
Crichton had alleged that Flanagan had bitten him on the nose during Canterbury's win over St George on Saturday.
Flanagan insisted during the two-hour hearing he had not bitten Crichton, but the judicial panel only took 15 minutes to find him guilty.
He repeated his denial outside NRL headquarters after the hearing.
"I'm disappointed with the result, but my focus turns now to the Dragons and how I can help them over the next couple of weeks," he told reporters.
"I didn't bite Stephen Crichton. But I thank them for a fair hearing and my focus is on the Dragons for the next four weeks.''
Judicial panel chairperson Geoffrey Bellew said the panel took into account that the bite was momentary, and that Flanagan had a creditworthy judicial record.
"However, the panel wished to make it clear that biting is a most serious offence and must be treated as such in terms of penalty," he said.
"In particular, the panel took the view that it was necessary to send a clear message to those playing the game that conduct of this kind will not be tolerated and, if proved, will inevitably result in a substantial suspension."
Crichton did not testify at the hearing.
Bellew said the panel was satisfied on video evidence that Flanagan's mouth was fully closed around Crichton's nose at one point and that the action had been carried out forcefully.
The ban means Flanagan will not be able to play for the Dragons until the finals should they qualify. They are in ninth place with three rounds remaining.