Nambucca Heads Under-18s rugby league player Alex Hull has lodged an appeal against a 14-match suspension.

Hull was one of seven Under-18 players who had to front the Group 2 judiciary last Wednesday night (7th).

The Nambucca Heads and Sawtell team-members were involved in an on-ground melee in the latter half of this year’s junior grand final, played at the Allan Gillett Oval, Macksville on September 20.

With the exception of Hull, all players involved in the brawl pleaded guilty to charges. They received suspensions ranging from three to 12 matches.

Pleading guilty, Nambucca Heads’ players Larnus Leisha received an eight match suspension, Matt Archer, eight matches and Kyle Cohen six matches.

Sawtell players, John Fogarty was suspended for 12 matches, Luke Uikelotu, four and John Jones three.

However, based on video evidence the judiciary board unanimously decided Hull was guilty.

Board chairman Bill Gibbons said an appeal was lodged on Friday (9th), accompanied by a $400 bond.

The appeal was lodged by Hull’s representative and Nambucca Heads real estate agent Anthony Field, based on video evidence taken from the western side of the ground, Mr Gibbons said.

“He hopes this will prove his innocence.”

The appeal will now be heard by Country Rugby League.

Hull is contracted to play with South Sydney for two years from the 2010 season in the nine-week SG Ball Competition for elite Under-18 players.

The competition starts in February before the NRL kicks off.

“The worst part of the 14-week suspension is that it is run adjacent to Group 2, so he would miss the SG,” Mr Field said.

He said fresh video evidence would maintain that Hull was protecting himself.

“Both times he was savagely assaulted and he was simply protecting himself.”

South Sydney coach John Lang has viewed the video evidence and requested he be the sole South Sydney representative to comment on the incident.

“We have requested the appeal be heard at a time, date and venue to suit our expert witness, who is not available until after October 25,” Mr Field said.

Hull pleaded guilty to an earlier incident at Port Macquarie this season when he went to the assistance of a team-mate.

“He got hit and he retaliated,” Mr Field said.

Hull was suspended for three matches.