This is the explosive photograph that is likely to be used to try to prove North Sydney rugby league player Mitchell Stevens bit the ear of an opponent in the NSW Cup - a charge the Bears winger will defend.
Fairfax Media has obtained the photo of Balmain-Ryde forward Jason Schirnack, taken immediately after the game on Sunday that was marred by the alleged bite, which will be tendered as evidence at Stevens's judiciary hearing.
That hearing has been adjourned for a week, to be held next Wednesday, after a dramatic change of heart by the Bears player yesterday.
Stevens had initially informed the NSWRL that he would plead guilty to the charge, but yesterday he changed his plea to not guilty.
That also led to a change from his club, which had originally sacked Stevens on the grounds that he would plead guilty.
Now that he has altered his plea, Bears boss Greg Florimo said yesterday the club would stand by him for the moment, although he had been stood down.
''He's adamant he did not bite him,'' Florimo said.
Schirnack, who is unable to have plastic surgery because the portion of the ear bitten off was never found, did not wish to comment last night, given the hearing is still to be held, but the photograph clearly shows a bloodied wound on his left ear.
It is understood Stevens had originally planned to plead guilty but then claimed the bite was an accident. But after legal advice he decided to plead not guilty, and is set to argue he was wearing a mouthguard at the time of the offence. There were also suggestions that a guilty plea might also open Stevens up to criminal charges, something Schirnack has not yet ruled out pressing ahead with.
Balmain-Ryde's general manager Paul Sironen said he believed Stevens had not realised the seriousness of the charges against him when he pleaded guilty.
NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr said the adjournment was agreed to after talks yesterday between Stevens's legal representative and the judiciary chairman Bob Abood and prosecutor James McLeod, even though Sironen later described the one-week delay as ''disappointing''.
''There was a plea sent in [on Tuesday] within the [allowed] time,'' Carr said. ''But there was confusion about the plea, through lack of advice, and the players' naivety about the rules.
''On consideration of the seriousness of the charge, he made an application to revisit the plea.''
Florimo said the club would stand by Stevens until the hearing. Stevens was already suspended for the club's clash with Cronulla this weekend after his involvement in the brawl which led to the alleged bite.
While allegations of biting are rare in rugby league, this particular offence is almost unheard of. In 1945, St George prop Bill McRitchie famously accused Newtown captain Frank ''Bumper' ' Farrell of biting part of his ear off. McRitchie submitted a signed affidavit but Farrell was cleared of any wrongdoing.
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