June 26, 1996: John Lomax banned six weeks for hit on Adam Ritson
In a bizarre twist of fate, the tackle may have saved Ritson's life.
Twenty-five years ago, Kiwi enforcer John Lomax thanked the judiciary for only suspending him for six weeks.
The Canberra prop came before the tribunal for a hit on Adam Ritson. Ritson was the most exciting young forward in the game and had been at the forefront of the ARL’s PR war when Super League broke out, leading to the famous press conference stoush between Paul Vautin and Piers Ackerman (sorry, Google it and come back to me with questions).
Because he had signed with the ARL, Lomax switched from Cronulla to Parramatta. He was playing his 11th game for his new club when Lomax coat-hangered him.
During routine brain scans, doctors found a cyst which was benign but potentially life threatening. When it was removed, Ritson suffered acute brain injury and severe memory loss. Ritson did eventually recover - he had 12 more surgeries and benefited from exotic herbal treatments according to some - but he retired later in 1996 at the age of just 20.
Despite the tackle not being the cause of Ritson’s retirement, Lomax was later the subject of a law suit which soon switched to the Raiders as its target.
Ritson later received an out-of-court settlement said to be six figures.
BRONCOS WILL NOT BUCK THE ARL
Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday, June 12 1996
By STEVE MASCORD
BRISBANE last night decided against defying an Australian Rugby League ban on State of Origin players turning out for their clubs this weekend.
But Broncos chief executive Shane Edwards said officials had seriously considered taking the unprecedented step of withdrawing their seven Queensland and NSW players from Origin camp to take on Manly at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
"We considered all our options and that was one of them," Edwards said. "But in the end, we decided to go with our youth, which has been a long standing policy of ours.
"We are disappointed that players were allowed to back up for their clubs after the Sydney-Country game and will also be able to do so after Australia plays the All Golds, but will have to miss a round in this case.
"The League could have had a 50,000 crowd this Friday and rugby league is the loser out of this decision."
Among the players the Broncos were last night able to call up were former Test fullback Paul Hauff, experienced first grader John Plath, former London Broncos five-eighth Ben Walker and exciting rookie prop Shane Webcke.
Edwards warned the club may harden its stance if its players refused to play against the alternative New Zealand side on June 28 and July 19 and if the ARL tried to stand down those players from subsequent premiership games.
In other news, Monday night football appears likely to be reintroduced on July 8 after a meeting of the NSWRL board last night.
RESOURCES
Adam Ritson appears in Footy Legends
The Eels star, the family tragedy and the innovation