High-profile figures from the Roosters, Nick Politis and Mark Bouris, have avoided penalties from the NRL’s integrity unit despite allegations of intimidating referee Mitchell James during the Las Vegas Nines tournament. James has expressed his anger at the integrity unit’s findings and intends to pursue the matter further.
Following a pool match involving the LA Roosters and Brisbane Veterans, James claimed that Politis and Bouris verbally abused and intimidated him, leading to his removal from officiating a later match involving a team affiliated with Politis. An investigation by the NRL found no substantial case against the two officials, although the Roosters received a warning against interacting with match officials.
In response, both Politis and Bouris denied any wrongdoing, asserting that they did not act threateningly. Bouris stated, “We were not in his face, and we didn’t abuse him or swear,” noting they felt the refereeing was subpar, but did not verbally attack James.
The integrity unit’s decision has left James dissatisfied, prompting him to threaten legal action. He argued that the response sends a poor message about accountability, particularly when considering the abuse match officials routinely face. James highlighted his disappointment in the investigation’s outcome, stating that the minor action taken against the Roosters fails to address the severity of the misconduct he experienced.
In a detailed email to the integrity unit, he emphasised the impact of the alleged intimidation on his professional reputation and officiating integrity. He called into question the NRL’s commitment to protecting referees, suggesting that the lenient response to powerful individuals within the sport sets a troubling precedent. James contrasted his current situation with a previous case where a referee received a suspended sentence for minor verbal misconduct, underscoring a disparity in how officials are treated at different levels of the game.
Given his dissatisfaction with the NRL’s handling of the matter, James plans to seek alternative avenues to escalate his complaint, insisting on meaningful accountability and better safeguarding for referees in rugby league. The NRL has acknowledged receipt of James’s concerns but has chosen not to comment publicly on the issue.