Uhmmmmmm No.Lancer wrote: Yeah, basically they are throwing out the common-law concept of precedence - unless it suits them. No precedence on which to base any interpretation of the rules or any application of discipline... Mao and Stalin would be proud.
If you did read Gary's statement you would have noted where during the appeal hearing Shanahan noted several several cases of precedent and Gary elaborated on the similarities and differences to the case before him.
In fact he used those precedents to lay the groundwork against any further appeal to an independent arbitrator while suggesting that Thornton was let off lightly because of his clean record.
The key was that Thornton admitted he identified Orpik in the scrum before skating around to target him.