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7 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai have denied intentionally hurting former West Tigers skipper Jarrod McCracken, who is suing the pair for prematurely ending his career.
McCracken is suing the two men and their then National Rugby League (NRL) club, Melbourne Storm, in the NSW Supreme Court for more than $750,000 in damages over a spear tackle on May 12, 2000.
McCracken injured his neck and spine and claims the incident ended his football career.
Kearney and Bai tonight appeared before the court via videolink from England, where they both have contracts to play for different teams.
Kearney told the court he did not intend to hurt McCracken.
He said he wanted get his opponent off balance by grabbing one of his legs.
"Jarrod was coming into the tackle and obviously my intention was to stop his momentum," Kearney said.
"It was my idea to get a bit of leg in the tackle."
He denied he intended to spear tackle McCracken.
"I did not intentionally drive him into the ground. My intention was to stop his momentum," he said.
He said the technique he used was common.
"It's a practice we still use," Kearney said.
Bai said he did not realise anyone else was involved in the tackle.
He said he went in to tackle McCracken with his right shoulder and arm.
"I went in to stop him from going forward," he told the court.
"I didn't know someone would be assisting me."
"I really just wanted to stop his momentum from going forward."
Both players were suspended by the NRL judiciary in 2000 after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw charge on McCracken.
Kearney, who faced two similar NRL charges prior to the McCracken incident, also denied he was aware of Bai's involvement in the McCracken tackle.
Earlier today, former first grade rugby league player and coach Warren Ryan was called as an expert witness to give his opinion on the tackle.
He said it was clear from a video of the tackle that Kearney lifted McCracken by grabbing hold of one leg.
Ryan said it was also highly unlikely Kearney would not have known of Bai's presence when he joined him in the tackle.
At the time of the incident, McCracken was on a two-year contract for the 2000 and 2001 seasons on a fee of $300,000 a year.
McCracken said earlier in the hearing that he would have continued his professional rugby league career, either in England or the NRL, if he had not been injured.
The loss of his career also caused McCracken to suffer from depression, the court was told.