Kemp not himself after collision

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 35

Kemp not himself after collision

NZPA-AAP Sydney New Zealand and Newcastle rugby league centre, Tony Kemp, collided headlong with a goal post 10 days ago and has not been the same since, the N.S.W. Rugby League Judiciary heard on Tuesday night. The Tribunal deferred a decision on suspending Kemp, who was sent off for attacking the head of Parramatta’s Mark Barnes on Sunday when Barnes was not in possession of the ball. Kemp pleaded guilty to the charge after the referee, Tony Kelly, amended the charge sheet twice on technicalities. Counsel for Kemp, Knight’s president Max Fox, said the incident was out of character for his client, who had been knocked to the ground when he ran into a steel upright at training 10 days ago. Mr Fox tended psychiatric and medical evidence, telling the hearing Kemp had become withdrawn and had been fined for driving at twice the speed limit in a built-up area since the training mishap. “That is not the Tony Kemp that I know,” Mr Fox said. Any suspension might affect Kemp’s appearances on the Kiwi tour of Britain, similar to the problem faced by Dean Bell in 1985.