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4 hours ago | Andrew Ferguson
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler's ongoing battle with the NRL officialdom continued overnight after second rower David Klemmer was exonerated by the judiciary for a contrary conduct charge.
Klemmer will be free to play the Eels on Friday night after escaping a two-match suspension for making contact with referee Ben Cummins in last Thursday's win over the Penrith Panthers. The club is said to be fuming that Klemmer was charged despite no fewer than three other players escaping citation for similar contact over the opening two rounds. Even more confusing is that Broncos' back James Roberts was charged with a similar offence to Klemmer but accepted an early plea with no suspension.
Hasler meanwhile was not impressed with the inconsistency of the MRC, and when quizzed on their need to exercise common sense, responded with "it's not very common sometimes, but it's one way of looking at it."
The Bulldogs' fearless leader also backed proposals which call for a fine system for minor offences including contact with referees.
"They'll probably [introduce a monetary penalty system] in due course. But at the moment, we have one judicial system running - you can't introduce another and have two", Hasler said.
It's not the first time Klemmer has fronted the judiciary this season either - he missed the Round 1 clash with Manly after a cannonball tackle on Melbourne prop Jesse Bromwich in a trial, for which he was originally set to miss two matches. He was successful in having his charge downgraded at Rugby League Central to miss only one match.
Canterbury go into Friday's match against Parramatta missing only Michael Lichaa and Brett Morris, while the Eels have several outs including Anthony Watmough, Nathan Peats (both injured) and Manu Ma'u, who is serving a one week suspension.