Key Points
Dragons hooker Nita Maynard-Perrin filmed using phone on bench after dislocated elbow injury in third minute.
NRL investigating timing and circumstances due to strict sports betting rules.
Dragons say she was contacting family, citing 2019 Shaun Johnson precedent where player avoided sanctions.
Cowboys won match 32-28 with winger Charlize Lloyd-Phillips scoring hat-trick.
The NRL is investigating St George Illawarra Dragons hooker Nita Maynard-Perrin after she was filmed using her phone on the bench during Saturday’s NRLW match against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium. Maynard-Perrin left the field injured in the third minute with a dislocated elbow. The league has strict regulations prohibiting phone use during matches to prevent sports betting violations, though the Dragons say she was simply contacting family about her injury.
What happened during the Dragons match
Nita Maynard-Perrin, Dragons hooker and number 9, suffered a dislocated elbow just three minutes into Saturday’s game against North Queensland. She was later observed on the bench with her left arm in a sling, using her phone early in the second half. The NRL said it would likely probe the timing and circumstances of her phone use. North Queensland won the match 32-28, with Cowboys winger Charlize Lloyd-Phillips scoring a hat-trick.
Why the NRL has strict phone rules
The NRL prohibits phone use during men’s and women’s matches because of the risk sports betting poses to the game’s integrity. The league has indicated that it will review the timing and circumstances of Maynard-Perrin’s phone usage during the game. There is no suggestion she was doing anything improper.
The Dragons’ explanation and precedent
St George Illawarra says Maynard-Perrin was simply in contact with her family after leaving the field injured. A similar case in 2019 involved Sharks player Shaun Johnson, who was seen with his phone in the dressing rooms after a hamstring injury at Suncorp Stadium. Johnson avoided sanctions because he was only communicating with family about his injury. Maynard-Perrin was expected to go to hospital on Saturday night for further evaluation of her elbow.
Final Thoughts
The NRL investigation appears routine given the league’s strict phone policies, but the Dragons’ explanation and the 2019 Johnson precedent suggest Maynard-Perrin is unlikely to face serious sanctions. The focus remains on confirming the context of her phone use rather than any alleged misconduct.
FAQs
The Dragons say she was contacting family after suffering a dislocated elbow in the third minute. She was on the bench with her arm in a sling when filmed using her phone.
The NRL prohibits phone use during matches to prevent sports betting violations and protect the game’s integrity.
In 2019, Sharks player Shaun Johnson avoided sanctions after being seen with his phone in the dressing rooms following a hamstring injury, as he was only contacting family.
North Queensland defeated St George Illawarra 32-28, with Cowboys winger Charlize Lloyd-Phillips scoring a hat-trick.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
About Author
Huzaifa Zahoor
Co FounderHuzaifa Zahoor is the engineer who built Meyka. He has spent years writing Python, training AI models, and building data pipelines specifically for financial markets. His technical articles have reached over 30,000 readers on Medium, so he knows how to make complex things easy to follow. If this article touches on how the tools work, he is the person who actually built them.
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