Forward pass sinks league’s reputation
Roar Guru
By ScottWoodward.me, 22 Mar 2010 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru
Related coverage
I was sitting in the grandstand at the SFS trying to enjoy a Shiraz from a plastic cup as I watched the Roosters towel up the Tigers, and then my iPhone vibrated. It was a mate from Melbourne who texted: “What about that forward pass, it has to be the lowest game on earth”.
I thought he was referring to Jonathan Thurston’s pass in the final minutes of the Cowboys v Panthers game that decided the result for the locals, but it was not until I made it home and watched the Eels and Sea Eagles game that the penny had dropped.
Admittedly my mate is an AFL nut but I can understand his comment when an “outsider” watches our great game and two on-field referees, two assistant referees and a video referee all allow a five meter forward pass change the result of the game.
How can that happen?
The previous pass was also forward, but the money ball pass to Reddy that turned the game would have been pulled up by Steve Wonder.
I measured the pass frame by frame and it was exactly 5 meters forward.
These are the match officials responsible for the monumental gaffe: Referees – Shayne Hayne & Brett Suttor; Sideline Officials – Jeff Younis & Gavin Reynolds; Video Ref – Tim Mander.
Fellas, hang your heads in shame and book yourselves into OPSM.
We are only human and anyone can miss a forward pass, but five metres?
I’m sure Tim Mander knew it was forward but he is not allowed to rule on it. Hey Tim, why didn’t you tip to your buddy Shayne and save us all this embarrassment? Has Robert Finch turned you into a robot?
Forget about the crucial four competition point swing that could decide the premiership come September, the credibility of our game has been damaged irrevocably.
The NRL need to comprehend that if they ever hope to win over new markets then blatant forward passes cannot be allowed to go through. If five on-ground officials are not enough then find the technology that can assist them.
We all know that video evidence can be deceptive, but use it to assist the referee and give the video ref the power to tip.
In the meantime I will eat some humble pie and call my mate back and tell him how entertaining the Roosters were, and that rugby league is not really the worst game in the world.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby League articles
- Rugby league’s new era: where to now? (19)
- New dawn for rugby league gets underway (11)
- Rugby league commission ushers in new era (3)
- Ennis confident about his NRL fitness
- Why sporting seasons should never cross paths (35)
- Independent Commission four years in the making, but worth the wait (27)
- Kearney still to choose Eels kicker
- Rugby league’s new era: where to now? (19)
- Federal Court has it wrong on sports broadcast copyright (48)
- An open letter to Channel Nine (107)
- The NRL’s scariest players (56)
- Is the All Stars match increasing the divide? (25)
- Channel Nine needs NRL-cricket ODI compromise (36)
- The NRL needs a vision (52)
- Explore:
- Forward pass, Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, Parramatta Eels, referees, Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, video ref
Midfielder said | March 22nd 2010 @ 5:57am | Report comment
Over reaction
MyGeneration said | March 22nd 2010 @ 6:45am | Report comment
A ridiculous over-reaction, and I’m a Manly supporter.
The officials have a lot to answer for in this case, but more technology is not the answer. Forward passes will always be contentious. It’s part of the game. It’s already been proven that trying to judge forward passes from camera angles doesn’t work. Maybe the officials yesterday were suffering from heat stress at the end of the game as well. But please don’t give them more excuses to stop the game for video review.
Could you let us know which game on earth doesn’t have embarrassing blunders by officials? As Tommy would say, harden up. I hope Manly do, instead of using this as an excuse for blowing another big lead. They had plenty of chances to stop that try before the last forward pass was thrown.
Hoy said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:21am | Report comment
If forward passes can’t be determined from camera angles, how can offsides? Just a thought.
I don’t support either team, but that was a terrible, terrible 5 metre forward pass, missed by lots of officials. I would be a little pissed as well if I was involved with the Eagles, and a little sheepish if I was at the Eels. As it is, I am just a little astounded.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Hoy
Agree 100% Hoy.
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:03am | Report comment
It is because with a lot of forward passes the momentum carries it 2-3 metres forward, even though it is thrown backwards. Look next time when two players are running down field and they draw the fullback and pass. Both players would be on the 30 metre line when the ball is passed, but when the ball is caught they would naturally be 3 or 4 metres in front of it. Otherwise it means players would have to stand still to catch the ball.
Hoy said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:24am | Report comment
I understand the laws of physics etc (not really) regarding the motion of the ball and players etc, however that pass was pretty cut and dried forward. And badly so.
Hoy said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:29pm | Report comment
Jeez, minus 1 for that? Bit rough.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:59am | Report comment
MG
I am not making excuses, just pointing out that 5 m passes should not happen in 2010.
Crosscoder said | March 22nd 2010 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Absolute overreaction.The Eagles had the Eels hung, quartered ,drawn for the best part of the game.It was not a single (obviously forward) pass that let the Eels back in (and yes it helped momentum wise),but the inabitlity of the Eagles defense to react quickly in the latter part of the game.They had the game won and blew it.
Would the Eels have won had this pass been called back,who knows?.The Eagles were in the drivers seat,and ended up in the back.Great game other than the one ordinary pass nonetheless.
NB Bit ironic your mate having a shot at one blunder in the game,when control of the ball in his game appears rather superficial for much of the time.And it won’t be the last blunder in a game of NRL.You rarely hear a coach compliment a ref making an extremely difficult decision ,which turns out to be correct. Nah it’s his job.
It’s the old snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory syndrome, made famous by North Sydney(hope Col tthe Bears )is not reading,and now taken over by my club the Sharks.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Crosscoder
You have missed the point.
I dont care who won, but I do care how it happens, and Parra should not have won, end of story.
My AFL mates watched the game and think our game stinks because we allow 5 m passes. They have a very good point.
Thurstons pass the previous night was also forward which won the game for the Cowboys but it was only just forward, the pass to Reddy was 5 meters, or the length of 5 men. Embarrassing!
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Because I see a lot of 1 metre tall men walking around…
Redb said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Having seen the footage of the game on Fox Sports news, I cant say as a AFL fan I agree with the thrust of your comments.
Given its a mistake by the Refs not to pick it up, it’s hardly a damming indictment of the whole game.
The bigger issue for me was the slack defence that allowed Hayne to run so far, were Manly trying?
So if you want to be critical from a fan of another codes perspective I would say the glorification of Hayne is much over stated.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Redb
We accept mistakes and it will always be part of any game, but this was monumental and changed a game that should have been picked up. It simply not good enough.
As for Hayne, he will be the NSW new fullback and his ability and skill factor would be equal to your Judd. If that is a glorification then fine.
Redb said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:32am | Report comment
If you watched 5 games and 3 of the 5 games had forward passes not picked up, then you might be able to form an opinion of the game through poor refs.
I;m not suggesting Hayne does not have skill, just that was my impression – poor defence.
I’m cant remember if Hayne was awarded the try or not at Etihad in origin (I attended the game) but his run down the sideline was good to watch. Actually I think part of his foot touched the line and after 9 bloody replays it was not awarded.
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:40am | Report comment
They did not award the try because they assumed part of his heel must have touched the line even though there was no conclusive evidence.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Redb
I had this conversation at 2sm last year with Bill Harrigan face to face and told him that he should book himself into OPSM.
There was no evidence that Hayne was on the line so it should have been benefit of the doubt.
Redb said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
I agree Springs and Scott, even if his foot was on the line that is still in play in my book.
cookin said | March 22nd 2010 @ 11:25am | Report comment
I would suggest your mates fix their own backyard before making such ludicrous comments…lack of ball control, little structure and minimal defense are all defining points in what makes AFL a second rate spectator sport!!
John said | March 22nd 2010 @ 6:50am | Report comment
Do your brass, Scott?
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:07am | Report comment
John
I never had a bet all day, but I do care for the game and what happened in that game was a disgrace.
I certainly would be spewing if I was on Manly.
sledgeross said | March 22nd 2010 @ 7:16am | Report comment
Look, I hate Manly as much as the next bloke, and I was angry at how blatent the forward pass was. But, as the blokes above have said, unfortunately it is part of the game. This is more so since they brought in the contentious “as long as it leaves the hand backwards” forward pass rule. WHen players are in motion it can be quite difficult to rule a forward pass, so its something that we just have to accept.
I actually tipped my cap (for the first and possibly last time) to Anthony Watmough, who merely said words to the effect of “yeah, we didnt get the calls in the second half, but we only have ourselves to blame. We made too many silly mistakes and had to defend too long in the heat, and should be able to defend such a big lead”. And that is fair enough. Manly were very ill disciplined in teh second half, and gave away cheap ball and field position.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Sledge
Who is responsible for this stupid rule “as long as it leaves the hand backwards” forward pass rule?
It is either forward or its not, surely it is black and white, or should be.
Brett McKay said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Scott, this “propelled backwards” interpretation has actually flowed over from rugby union. Years ago (and I don’t know how many years ago), Rugby changed its interpretation to allow passes to drift forward as long as the pass was thrown backwards. The direction of the fingers was seen as the indicator.
For a period there, plenty of RL folk made light of “all the forward passes in Union now”, but within a few years, the NRL (at least) followed suit, and hence the “as long as it leaves the hand backwards” as you’ve mentioned.
Again, I can’t give you the timings of these changes in either codes, but my guess is within the last 15yrs in rugby, and maybe the last 10yrs in league…
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Brett,
Its a crazy rule, like saying I didnt kill him with my gun , he bled to death.
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:37am | Report comment
It’s not a crazy rule. Otherwise we would see forward passes pulled up every few minutes. If you took time to look at the Keating pass, then have a look at all the other passes. For a simple fullback draw-and-pass play, most of them go forward. That is because for a suppot player to be in a position to catch the pass, he has to be in-line or near in line to the player with the ball. The ball player will throw the pass backwards, when at that time the support player is 1 metre behind. But the support player will catch the ball 2 or 3 metres after the line, as he is at full speed and the ball is travelling at the same speed as the players running. It’s like when you throw something up in the air in a moving car, it seems to just go up and down, but has actually gone possibly 100+ metres forward from where it was thrown. Understand physics now Scott?
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Springs
Take two pills.
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Oh so when Brett says it it is fine but when I explain it properly I need to take pills. Well I don’t take drugs sorry Scott so get over it.
Brett McKay said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Springs, if it’s any consolation, I’m not quite sure how Scott can say it’s a crazy rule one post, and then say he’s cool with it only a couple below…
Must be a Monday thing…
Brett McKay said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Scott, I happen to think the rule’s spot on, to be honest, because it allows for players in motion, and the laws of physics, essentially. If two blokes are running flat out, and one throws a flatish pass to the other, it’s a given that the ball will float forward with momentum. But the pass wasn’t actually thrown forward, and so it rightly should be allowed.
Now I haven’t seen the pass in question in the Parra game, but my gut suspicion is that it wasn’t actually thrown backwards, which is a whole other problem….
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Brett
I am also cool with the rule, it is just how some refs define forward. These guys are professionals and as I said Stevie wonder would have picked it up.
mushi said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Not really – if you’re talking murder you’re talking intent, and they are policing the intent of the passer here not the result.
CaughtOffside said | March 22nd 2010 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
They are nort really proffesional though are they… The refs still have to go to work on Monday? The players who missed the tackles dont, they can go work on their defence.
Andrew Watson said | March 22nd 2010 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
LMAO
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Maybe OPSM should sponsor the refs??
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:09am | Report comment
They do in the AFL.
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Yeh – I know – that’s all part of the joke!!
Hammer said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Got to agree to a point – the other area that annoys and cheapens league is the desire to award a try for anything .. the slightest of touches or a bounce etc …
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Hammer
U R correct, whatever happened to the word “CONTROL”
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Another ridiculous article by Woodward. Please tell me this device you have that allows you to measure metres from the TV screen? Reddy had a lot more than 5 metres to run to the line, and he caught it in the air. How could ye know? It was obviously forward, but a five metre forward pass would almost have to be a penalty. With the momentum and the fact Reddy jumped, i say Keating passed the ball 2-3 metres forward. But hold on Woodward, Keating is supposed to be a better half than Robson and not do these silly mistakes, if we had him he would have won us the Grand Final right?
But anyway i was glad to see Watmough’s reaction after the game. He was disappointed that his team let a 20 point lead go. Did not say anything about the refs, just his team and the fact that the bounce of the ball went against them. Better than most of the fans whining that one’s for true.
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:19am | Report comment
Springs
Thanx for your input even if you do not use your name.
If you do not think the pass was 5 meters forward then you should go with the refs and see OPSM.
Your negative contribution is all over the place and involves who plays 7 and then a comment about Watmough. You should sit down and take another pill.
As you have mentioned it, I will stick with my comment that Robson should not be a starting 7 and that Keating has superior organisational and tactical kicking skills. I am not sure if he is even their answer and maybe it should be Mortimer, but it is an area that they have not got right just yet.
Springs said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Oh okay, I thought League’s reputation relying on one forward pass was negative, but anyway…
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:19am | Report comment
I have to admit – it sort of sounds weird that you would be concerned by your AFL mates worrying about forward passes!!
ScottWoodward.me said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Dogz
It is not that I am worried, but I struggle with RU because I watch it and see some dumb rules, not to mention it is very slow with stoppages all the time.
When a non RL person watches our game I would like them to think it is a great game with entertaining rules and well reffed. What we saw on Sunday was an embarrassment.
They should be talking about Hayne not a forward pass.
Dogz R Barkn said | March 23rd 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Fair enough, no matter the game, we want them well officiated – I guess my question would be: is this part of some long term trend where refs are letting such passes go more often, or was it just a one off? (and I note that the ref in question will be sent to the bush this weekend)