Queensland player Brent Tate punches NSW player Greg Bird in the head during State of Origin 3 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, July 4, 2012 (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
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The best rugby league contest in the world is in danger. Maybe because I am a Blues fan, although I did live in Queensland for seven years and my family are Maroon through and through, I can’t help but find issues with the refereeing in each series.
To me the overriding issue is the level of consistency in interpreting the rules by the current referees. The coaches and players are too far ahead when it comes to inventing tactics that exploit the rules and the refs lack of knowledge and consistency.
The systematic flaunting of the rules and creating of situations that are not specifically governed by a rule and thus cast doubt in the referees’ minds started with Bennett and the Broncos and has been a culture in the Queensland team ever since.
It has spread to Melbourne via Bellamy and the rest of the sides have started to embraced it. They have had to in order to stay competitive.
But Queensland is the master.
It is so rampant now that everyone just assumes they will get away with it , even the refs. There is example after example in every series.
This series was no exception with the Inglis try in game one, down to the stripping of the ball just before half time in game three. The referees obviously found no fault with Brent Tate’s punch and second punch to a defenceless player on the ground. Queensland got the penalty.
It is now so blatant to me that I have lost interest in the best series of rugby league in the world. I never thought I would say this but the AFL is now far more appealing and the NRL should be very worried. The referees and their stupid inconsistent decisions are spoiling the game and will ultimately lead to dwindling numbers and the rise of soccer and Aussie rules.
Now that Gallop is gone, I hope that the new CEO focuses on the rules and interpretations and gets fair-dinkum referees and consistent decisions. The new CEO must allow the game to play out with the best team winning, rather than the most cunning or those prepared to bend the rules. The Australian ethos of a fair go is at risk in the NRL and it’s a disgrace.
The age old principle “Keep It Simple, Stupid” needs to be plastered on the wall at NRL headquarters and the referees training facilities. Now, with two on-field refs and a third in the box we expect better decisions but in fact the calls are worse and the fans are sick of it. Less rules and more consistency is the answer.
Maybe we need international refs for Origin games? At least they are not worried about their jobs or which state they are from.
A back-to-basics approach is needed. Sure, change is never easy. Its possible that more penalties in the first half of the next season will slow the game and disrupt the flow, but teams will get used to consistency and stop the blatant disrespect for the game and the fans.
We need to fix the problems now, or the fans will vote with their feet.
- Explore:
- NRL, Rugby League, State Of Origin
July 6th 2012 @ 1:37am
Kim Hart said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:37am | Report comment
If the referees were worried about their jobs they would gift NSW every series – but they don’t. I think they did a fine job in game III and any criticism is just sour grapes. The best team won and has done for thirty two years that’s as simple as the situation is. Those three years from 03-05 when NSW pumped us – the referees didn’t cost us. Our own poor play and the better play of NSW did.
In reference to ”creating of situations that are not specifically governed by a rule ‘is I assume in reference to the Hodges try in which case there is a specific rule and by that rule it was a try and I can’t believe it’s even being debated today. I also can’t honestly believe that QLD engineered the Inglis situation in game I. If they were good enough to orchestrate Inglis putting the ball in the path of Farah’s boot surely they would have just orchestrated Inglis planting the ball in the in-goal.
The rules are what they are and a key difference between the two states at the moment is that one accepts them and plays to them (as do referees) and the other imagines what they think they should be (around the central principle of Queensland are not permitted to win) and sook that they cannot wish rules into life.
July 6th 2012 @ 9:42am
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:42am | Report comment
It’s interesting that simple minded people continue to confuse the favoring of a side to assist them in winning, with the rigging of a game.
July 6th 2012 @ 4:40pm
Matt said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
You’re STILL going on with the “rigging”.
Back in my day the rubbish team just lost, but hey…
July 6th 2012 @ 5:40pm
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Why don’t you enlighten me some more on why the series is doomed and the various elements which masked the lack of interest this year.
I’m sure the rubbish team lost back in your day, they lost quite a bit in fact in ’92, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’97 and some more in ’03, ’04 and ’05. But now the rubbish team is winning.
July 6th 2012 @ 5:52pm
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 5:52pm | Report comment
that last bit was tongue incheek, just in case that escapes you…
July 8th 2012 @ 4:02pm
qlder said | July 8th 2012 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
give it a rest
July 6th 2012 @ 10:00am
WQ said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Well said Kim Hart!
The other thing that I would add to your comment is directed straight at By Troy – Good riddence I say, the best thing we could have happen is for AFL fans to go and watch and comment on AFL.
I look forward to not hearing from you again on a Rugby League Blog
July 6th 2012 @ 10:01am
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Well said KH
July 6th 2012 @ 1:56am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:56am | Report comment
I wish NSW fans would grow up and stop talking nonsense. All of their whacky conspiracy theories are beginning to make me wonder whether insanity has become contagious and has hit NSW in epidemic proportions. Not even Chris Carter could come up with of the stories that the cockroaches have concocted.
July 6th 2012 @ 7:23pm
Big_Marn2000 said | July 6th 2012 @ 7:23pm | Report comment
I’m not saying that there’s a conspiracy against NSW. But QLD have had the rub of the green with the refs all year. This series has highlighted a blatant lack of consistency in terms of refereeing standards. This lack of consistency – be it on purpose or by accident – has worked massively in QLD’s favour. I could write for ages about how ridiculous the Jennings sin-binning was. It was a complete overreaction on Matt Cecchin’s part – a penalty was sufficient punishment (especially in Origin). And given that Thaiday runs in like that all the time in Origin (only difference is that Jennings connected with his punch), and the fact that the referees didn’t even address Brent Tate’s punch to a defenseless Greg Bird in game 3, it demonstrates a huge lack of consistency with all the more lenient rulings that we’ve grown accustom to in Origin footy (as opposed to club footy). What about the penalty against Greg Bird for a perfect textbook tackle in game 1. What about the sinbinning of Cooper Cronk in game 2 when a penalty try clearly should have been awarded. Sure, the Blues scored 2 tries while he was off, but what if Cronk had done the exact same thing when NSW trailed by 6 right on full time. His sinbinning and 2 points for a penalty would not have been sufficient punishment.
There are 2 incidents that I want to bring to your attention, both of which highlight how a lack of consistent refereeing has cost NSW dearly in this year’s series. The first occurred in game 3. I want to compare 2 very similar tackles. One was penalized, one wasn’t. Both deserved to be penalized. Let’s call them tackle A and tackle B. Now in tackle A, a man of average height (Hodges) sticks his arm out and makes contact with the head of one of the tallest blokes on the field (T-Rex) who was running basically upright. This goes unnoticed and unpenalized by the referees. In tackle B, one of the tallest blokes on the field (T-Rex) makes contact with the head of one of the shortest blokes on the field (Cronk), while he’s already falling to the ground. Williams is penalized and QLD get 2 points. I’m not disputing the penalty against Williams. But let me ask you what’s worse. A tall guy hitting a short guy high while he’s falling, or an average guy hitting a tall guy high while he’s upright? Hodges’ shot on Williams definitely warranted a penalty. Looking back on a game where the winning margin was just 1 point, the decision not to penalize Hodges proved costly for the Blues.
The other incident is the two ‘tries’ which were controversially awarded by the video referee: the Inglis ‘try’ in game 1, and the Hodges ‘try’ in game 3. These two video referee decisions proved costly for the Blues this year. In its own context, I can cop the Hodges try being awarded. I personally have my doubts over its legitimacy as a try, but obstruction is undoubtedly the biggest grey area in the game, so I could cop either decision. However, given the ridiculous ‘letter of the law’ ruling which saw Sean Hamstead award Greg Inglis the most controversial try in Origin history, I believe that Steve Clarke had to disallow the Hodges try, purely on the basis that it was not a try to the letter of the law. As much as I hate to admit it, the Inglis try probably is a try under the letter of the law. The law is flawed, and it needs to be changed asap. But the damage has been done. Hamstead, on the basis that he was following the laws of the game ‘to the letter’, correctly awarded the Inglis try. The law relevant to the Hodges try states “The runner cannot run behind his own team and gain an advantage.” There’s no doubting that Hodges ran behind Ben Hannant, and if scoring a try isn’t “gaining an advantage” then I don’t know what is. Under the letter of the law, the Hodges try should have been disallowed. The bottom line is that if the referees were consistent in this year’s series, then one of these tries would have been disallowed. They obviously weren’t consistent, and whether the refs conspired against NSW or not (and I don’t think that they did), Queensland was definitely the major benefactor of inconsistent refereeing in this year’s series. The Blues have every right to feel hard done by.
July 7th 2012 @ 12:19am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 7th 2012 @ 12:19am | Report comment
I don’t think you can say that Hodges try means he gained an advantage from running behind the decoy runner. He would have scored regardless of whether the decoy was there as the NSW defenders were standing flat on their heels and did not press forward. It’s hard to accelerate from a standing position when your weight is fixated on your heels. You need to be on the balls of your feet and tippy toes to be able to react quickly.
I do noo buy the claim that the NSW defender switched off on the Hodges play because they thought it was an obstruction. There were flat on their heels before Hodges ran behind the decoy. A few moments earlier they kicked the ball out on the full. Kicking the ball out on the full and making really poor defensive reads are part and parcel of tiring players who’ve lost focus. They were tired because Queensland dominated the last 20 mintues of the first half. Give credit where it’s due.
July 18th 2012 @ 2:03pm
Luke M said | July 18th 2012 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
You are missing the point. The defenders could have been laying on sunbeds having a lemonade and it wouldnt matter. Hodges ran behind his man, scored a try. Thats a shepherd.
July 6th 2012 @ 2:00am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 6th 2012 @ 2:00am | Report comment
“The referees obviously found no fault with Brent Tate’s punch and second punch to a defenceless player on the ground. Queensland got the penalty.”
They also found no fault with Morris committing a professional foul on Inglis. Half of the cockroaches were still coming onside. Morris held onto Inglis far longer than the rules allow. It was a blatant attempt to snuff out any opportunity that Queensland had to take advantage of the Smith/Inglis linebreak.
I don’t recall Farah getting penalised for his grubby tactics in game II. He should be thanking the heavens he wasn’t penalised for striking out at the ball with his boot in game I.
I’d like to know what’s in the drinking water in Sydney.
July 6th 2012 @ 9:08am
Jimbo Jones said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Please explain what Farahs dirty tactics were in game 2, first I’ve heard of it, and I didnt notice anything during the game but interested to see what you noticed.
July 6th 2012 @ 9:39am
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:39am | Report comment
They can’t explain or cite any concrete evidence they just talk in circles with “gallen is a grub”, “NSW always get off at the judiciary”, “Meninga can coach”.
July 6th 2012 @ 4:42pm
Matt said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Concrete evidence? Um, other than the fact gallen HAS always got off at the judiciary.
He IS a grub. Have you even watched him play? I’m not talking just origin here.
The team is good, I’m sure most coaches could have the success he has had with this side.
July 6th 2012 @ 6:28pm
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
cheers for the example ^
July 7th 2012 @ 12:21am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 7th 2012 @ 12:21am | Report comment
Gallen called a dark player a “black c***”, he grabbed a player by the balls and he continuously whinged after NSW lost last year. That’s grubby behaviour. I don’t recall him ever being punished.
July 6th 2012 @ 10:01am
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
what game were you watching Jimbo, I suggest you watch the replay of SOO2. QLD didn’t whinge after SOO2.
Don’t worry NSW might win in 2014. no hope nxt yr. have a good day
July 6th 2012 @ 10:11am
steve b said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:11am | Report comment
The same game i was watching ,,that saw the head butting champion win the medal for the series ,,dayer you honesly should WATCH the game ,,the biggest grub on the feild plays for QLD …..
July 6th 2012 @ 10:41am
Boydy said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Ain’t that the truth steve b, you said it. I have quite a few Qld mates who can’t stand him with his dirty grubby little tactics when he’s playing for Melbourne but love him when he’s doing the same things for Qld (go figure?)
July 6th 2012 @ 11:29am
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:29am | Report comment
I feel sorry for you NSW fans, I really, really do. It’s hard to accept that NSW are the biggest GRUBS on the footy field yet all you guys do is put the blue blinkers on see what you wanna see. unbelievable, if you talking about the unfortunate incident in which Farrah got KO’ed, it was just an accident, ask the match officials, guess what he won the Wally Lewis man of the series. Myles is it???
Better luck next time
July 6th 2012 @ 11:31am
MemberforDobell/PLANKO said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:31am | Report comment
I will take my blinkers only after you sir !
July 6th 2012 @ 1:25pm
JVGO said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Watch the game again Dayer. Myles did exactly the same to Farrah early in the game but didn;t get a good shot on him. He obviously was aware that Robbie has had concussion issues so he did it again and knocked him out. It was a grub play but it is not really what we are talkling about in this article. We are talking about the refs and the interpretation of the rules and the management of this process across the whole comp not just origin.
July 6th 2012 @ 2:08pm
steve b said | July 6th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Dayer what is unbelievable is that you believe your own tripe ,,i honestly believe you never watched the game..or you have trouble with the truth,,,,..and you dont need to feel sorry for anyone exept yourself ,,,,get to the eye doctor as soon as possible.Ray Hadley on the footy show last night gave it the thumbs down and we all saw what he was doing during the game..Its seems only the QLDesr that cant call a spade a spade that have trouble telling the truth and admitting it was wrong…….
July 6th 2012 @ 12:37pm
Kim Hart said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Just wondering what he should do with his head? Should he detach it and place it to the side? As far as my knowledge ofanatomy goes the head is at the top of the body so it stands to reason that in a standard tackle a player will alsways lead with their head. It is physiologically impossible to do otherwise.
Farah got knocked senseless because he has been concussed twice previously in the past month and NSW officials not only let him play but let him play sans headgear.
July 6th 2012 @ 3:01pm
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
You’re a genius, is that right a player will always lead with their head in that manner, that’s a standard tackle?
No doubt, you’ve learned this through your years of experience in playing league. In fact why don’t you go down to the oval with some fellow QLDers and practice some tackling drills leading with your heads like that, you’ll be fine trust me.
July 6th 2012 @ 3:53pm
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 3:53pm | Report comment
Stevey B .. you want the TRUTH …Well, you just can’t handle the TRUTH. Mate get over it, you sound like Ricky Stuart and Brad “lost in space” Fitler.
July 6th 2012 @ 4:03pm
steve b said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
no mate im about the facts something that eludes you !!
July 8th 2012 @ 4:06pm
qlder said | July 8th 2012 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
lol come on mate. even you cant believe that crap.
July 6th 2012 @ 11:20am
Jimbo Jones said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:20am | Report comment
I was watching SOO2. I am hoping you can enlighten me and tell me any incidents of when Farah engaged in some grubby tactics. Can you tell me anything specific, or have you just got a vague “he’s a grubby player’ response for me?
Or is this just a trolling statement and I’ve unfortunately taken the bait?
July 6th 2012 @ 11:43am
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:43am | Report comment
Jimbo, matter of fact, i am a Farrah and Benji fan even though I am a mad Broncos fan. I hope he becomes the Blues captain because he seems a better leader than Gallen. watch the first 5 minutes of SOO2 and you will see the uncharacteristic actions he ……….
July 6th 2012 @ 8:51pm
Jimbo jones said | July 6th 2012 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
Just rewatched the first 5 minutes and didn’t see Farah do anything unsavory. I know I probably watch with unintentional blues goggles on, but please list what he has done as you were very unspecific,
July 6th 2012 @ 12:22pm
Luke M said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
He led with his nose onto Myles’ forehead twice.
July 6th 2012 @ 3:28pm
Gareth said | July 6th 2012 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Well it does take more effort to avoid Myles’ forehead than hit it. That thing has its own gravitational field.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:34pm
Kim Hart said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Placing Tates head in flexion on every tackle in games 1-3. Now if punching a bloke on the ground is a dog act is trying to cripple someone equally a dog act? Interesting to read in the paper today that Jennings labelled this a dog shot. I am wondering where he draws the line between punching a player in the back of the head and this incident.
July 6th 2012 @ 6:25pm
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
Probably draws the line right in front of both he and Tate difference is Jennings was penalised, sin binned and charged with a higher offence and was suspended one game.
But I wouldn’t expect a Queenslander with an IQ of 145 to to be able to determine the distinction
July 7th 2012 @ 12:23am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 7th 2012 @ 12:23am | Report comment
I recall Farah rubbing players’ faces in the dirt while they were defenceless on the ground, speaking trash to them while he rubbing their faces in the dirt, grinding his elbow over the tackled players’ faces, making second and third efforts in the tackle. That’s grubby behaviour.
July 7th 2012 @ 1:10am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 7th 2012 @ 1:10am | Report comment
Maybe I was wrong about Farah.
I just watched the opening 10 minutes of origin 2. I don’t recall Farah doing too much there. There was an incident in the 1st minute where it looked like he punched Slater, but after seeing the replay it looked more like he was punching at the ball.
I’ll have to look over the whole game at some stage.
July 7th 2012 @ 5:22pm
Jimbo jones said | July 7th 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
Cheers for checking it out mate,
July 8th 2012 @ 4:04pm
qlder said | July 8th 2012 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
well said
July 6th 2012 @ 3:22am
JVGO said | July 6th 2012 @ 3:22am | Report comment
Maybe the Blues weren’t quite good enough this series but the overriding thing to come out of Origin for me is that the refereeing is a mess and needs a complete overheaul There is controversy and bitterness in almost every game. It is getting ridiculous.
The Inglis try in game 1 was not a try and I don;t believe Hodge’s try was either. In RL you cannot dummy to a man and run behind him. That is an illegal play, a shepherd, to dummy to a man and then to pass behind him is another play altogether and governed by different rules, the decoy runner rules.
The fact is that since day 1 of the season the refs are simply not getting things right and appear to me uninformed on the basic rules of the game and seem completely confused. Because they are simply not clear on the rules or are confused they tend to go on crucial 50-50 calls with the favoured side, the side expected to win or the home side (although I don’t believe either of the two most contentious calls in origin should be considered 50-50, I think they were clear cut no tries).
Because they seem weak on the actual rules and are more concerned about about controlling the style of play and arriving at the less contentious outcome of the game they are unconsciously favouring teams that are expected to win, this is the path of least resistance for them in difficult situations and seems natural human psychology to take the easy way as a reaction to being in a contentious pressure situation.
Harrigan is not doing his job. His refs are not authoritive in their decisions and by two huge blunders in Origin in particular they have thrown the whole game into confusion with no clear idea of either a knock on or a shepherd.
As a Sharks fan I am absolutely convinced that our season will be decided in this manner, because we are underdogs crucial decisions will inevitably go against us in the big games and no doubt cost us a shot at a premiership.
Honestly I think the game is in a crisis of confidence in regard to the reffing and something needs to be done quick.
The fact that Harrigan has justified the Hodges ruling on the clause inserted last year regarding the referees opinion is ridiculous. Referee’s opinions are as falliblle as anyone elses. There simply need to be clear rules as to the manner of play in the game, not something that is open to opinion and subjective judgements. Cut and dried, if you run behind your own player you cannot take any advantage thereafter or it is a penalty, if you knock the ball on it cannot be a try. These would be the only possible outcomes.
July 6th 2012 @ 9:36am
josh said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:36am | Report comment
As a fellow Sharks fan I am absolutely certain that you are right.
There is a clear and undeniable agenda which sees the team whose success is the desired outcome for the code favored by the refs week in, week out. It is now as plain as day.
The large market, highest rating sides are endlessly getting the rub of the green. Does the success of these teams and their promotion deep into the finals ensure bumper ratings? yep. Does the bumper ratings ensure maximum exposure and advertising revenue? sure. Does the increased advertising revenue/ratings for networks/intended networks increase the television rights $$$$. Absofnlutely!!
It is no coincidence either that Origin is healthier when QLD are winning and this all conquering “dynasty” is preserved. If it is all just a huge ongoing coincidence then the NRL better get their collective sh together because that perception is quickly becoming reality.
Maybe we’ll have to wait until the next broadcasting deal has been struck to see some equality/consistency within the game, but by then, as the author suggests, people will have already switched off.
July 6th 2012 @ 10:50am
Luke said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:50am | Report comment
I totally agree. Although I am a Dragons fan I have seen this happen alot during the season, to many other sides as well Sharks included.
It seems as though the league has decided they have had enough of our ‘boring’ style of play that has seen us win so many games over the course of the last three years just because it isn’t a good image for the game. Although the lack of flamouyance and reliance on the defence to win games isn’t as good to watch as an attacking Tigers outfit in ‘catch-up mode’ I think the worse look is the amount of inconsistency in the refereeing decisions and the lack of clarity on decisions.
The amount of times this season I have seen the ‘experts’ in the commentary box all agree on one ruling of a video decision and then the decision being the exact opposite is unbelievable and something that reflects poorly on the game, and leaves fringe viewers scratching their heads and wondering what is going on. This “coincidence” of the favoured team getting the decisions has to stop or people will vote with their feet and follow AFL (the Sydney Swans are going well this year…)
July 6th 2012 @ 11:08am
Boydy said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Point in case Luke, last Monday night……. How the hell was Canberra allowed that try when their winger changed direction to take out not one, but TWO covering defenders is an absolute disgrace.
I read somewhere that a new clause or rule was introduced last year that allows referees to use their own judgement on decisions such as in this instance, the video referee was allowed to assume that, “they wouldn’t have caught him anyway”.
I’ve got news for the video ref, the bloke that ran into them thought they were a chance otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered. Once he did it was interference and it doesn’t matter one bit whether or not they would have stopped him, it was a against the rules and the try should have been disallowed and a penalty awarded to St George.
BTW, just for the record before all the Qldrs start calling me whinger (that’s the only word they have in the Qld dictionary for object opinion), I’m not a Dragons supporter, I a Tigers man through and through.
July 6th 2012 @ 10:56am
Boydy said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Here is a comment I posted after the Inglis debacle in game 1 and (unfortunately) it would seem my prediction was correct:
Boydy said | May 24th 2012 @ 12:01am | Report comment
I can’t help but feel that there’s a hidden agenda behind all this.
NSW “WILL” win SOO 2 in Syd thus ensuring bumper TV ratings for the final game at Suncorp.
Whilst the NRL are busily negotiating a new TV deal, we’re assured that SOO will once again go down to best of 3.
Sadly, I say bring on the Olympics because, quite frankly I don’t want to have to put up with anymore of this BS.
Rugby League used to be the “Greatest Game Of All”, but lately it has lost me.
I’m sick of seeing crap video ref calls, p**s poor refereeing decisions, garbage “so called” journalist reporting on games, rubbish wrestling and judo (et al) tactics and worst of all down right pathetic antics by players claiming tries and lying down in tackles when they clearly know they’ve f**ked up!
July 6th 2012 @ 12:22pm
oikee said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
You always get the feeling that people like Troy who write these blogs are AFL fans, because league fans would never walk away from league, never.
They are also the guys who tell you it is ok to like more than 1 sport, yet they would never watch anything but AFL.
Boydy, mate, you say your a Tiger fan and yet you have a whinge on behalf of the Dragons, and some guy who got pushed by a dragon player and fell over causing 2 dragons to fall. Forget about it mate, it is not a conspirouscy, things just happen.
How you can come up with this thoery in origin games is beyond me. Feel free to join Troy at AFL.
Just remember they tank, but dont let that get in your way.
July 6th 2012 @ 1:15pm
Boydy said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
I’m not whinging on behalf of anyone oikee, I’m just stating fact. Rules are rules and if you introduce one that is along the lines of “the rules only count if the referee agrees with it” then you are opening a can of worms that can’t be re-closed.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:41pm
Kim Hart said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Yeah because there’s no cheating, corruption or other underhanded goings on in the olympics.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:39pm
Kim Hart said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Read the rules before categorically stating what they are otherwie you look jaded and foolish.
July 6th 2012 @ 3:31am
dishes said | July 6th 2012 @ 3:31am | Report comment
“The referees and their stupid inconsistent decisions are spoiling the game and will ultimately lead to dwindling numbers and the rise of soccer and Aussie rules.”
No, they are refereeing to favour whoever they think should win “for the good of the game”. Queensland winning the series is raising viewing numbers. I knew NSW were going to lose when Tate threw 2 punches and didn’t even have to SPEAK to the referee. Even with the video ref offering assistance. And if you think i’m biased NSW got the rub of the green in Sydney, too. It’s an absolute joke.
Don’t worry, maybe next year the NRL and Bill Harrigan will decide that it’s “for the good of the game” for NSW to pick up a series, and every 50/50 call they will give to NSW.
Think I’m crazy but watch it happen.
July 6th 2012 @ 11:49am
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:49am | Report comment
League will get better regardless of match officials but YES they are very inconsistent, aren’t they?
If you feel disillusioned and walk away from league, that’s OK because it’s your choice but you will be walking from the greatest game of all man kind. Lol
July 6th 2012 @ 12:25pm
dishes said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
I’m the most faithful rugby league fan out there. Through everything. The super-league war and all. I’ve been a Sharks fan my whole life for goodness sake, if you think I’m easily disillusioned you are wrong.
But this refereeing bullshit has to stop. It’s far to technical. Harrigan has got to go.
As soon as Tate got away with what he did I knew NSW were going to lose. I’ve watched enough Rugby league to know that every 50/50 decision would go QLD’s way.
Mark my words- NSW will win next year, and EVERY 50/50 will go their way. Now that QLD have the “magnificent seven” and will go down as a champion side, it will be in “the good of the game” for NSW to win and the referees will adjudicate accordingly.
July 6th 2012 @ 1:30pm
Raugeee said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Dishes, I’ve been a conspiracy theorist for years and knew NSW would win game 2 last year and this year as they did. The thing is, for NSW to actually win a series the refereeing would have to be SO obviously one-sided even the people on this forum wouldn’t find it debatable!
July 6th 2012 @ 4:25pm
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
Great to hear, Dishes … but you sound a bit like Phil Gould … make some predictions and when it doesn’t happen he keeps quiet about it but when by miracle it happens he goes into the mumbo jumbo mode … yap, yap, yap!
Look, who ever wins it next year, it’s just gonna be the same blah, blah about the Refs.
What you said about the Refs in the last game is just (sorry to say but.. ) a lot of C R A P. it went both ways,
NSW does most of the whinging and QLD some of the whinging.
NSW will win in 2014 not 2013. even if, as you say the REFS will “kiill” Qld, we Qlders have two home games and will win them both regardless of the one-sided refereeing as you are predicting and to rub salt into your wounds, we the Qlders will beat NSW at your home fortress thus wrapping up no.8 in the second game of the series. if yous then don’t whinge we might give you the third at SUNCORP.
Oops!!! sorry to sound arogant .. it’s not in my character …. just having fun, trying to psych you out for next years series. good on ya
July 6th 2012 @ 4:38pm
steve b said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
you give real QLDers a bad name !!
July 6th 2012 @ 5:07pm
Dayer said | July 6th 2012 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
You again. Hi how you doin man .. You have no idea what it means to be a real Qlder
Lose, win or draw .. we cop it sweet by drinking our beer XXXX.
July 6th 2012 @ 8:50am
mushi said | July 6th 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
It’s like a logic and integrity vacuum in here
July 6th 2012 @ 10:44am
DingoBob said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
+1
July 8th 2012 @ 12:04am
Damn Straight said | July 8th 2012 @ 12:04am | Report comment
^
What he said.
July 6th 2012 @ 8:58am
Will Sinclair said | July 6th 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
I can’t remember who I was arguing with yesterday about the Hodges try (Red Kev was definitely one), but I’ve changed my mind.
Apparently the rule was recently amended to include a clause about the dummy runner having to “prevent a defender from stopping a try being scored.”
That’s a crucial piece of information and, given that I don’t believe (on the balance of evidence) that Hannant prevented a Blues defender from stopping Hodges scoring the try… the decision was correct (in my opinion).
Anyway – don’t know if any of the boys from yesterday will see this, but if they do I’m happy to concede I was wrong!
July 6th 2012 @ 9:35am
JVGO said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
‘In the refs opinion’…still doesn’t make the rule right though. Simply adds another layer of controversy. This is why we don’t have real scrums anymore, so that the ref doesn’t decide the game, as he mostly does in RU. i don’t believe you can have a viable weekly club comp where the refs can decide the outcome of the game on anything less than an extremely objective basis. Both those tries should not have been awarded as RL tries, they were prima facie knock on and shepherd.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:29pm
Luke M said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
We also cant have a viable weekly comp when its Origin season and half the teams resemble NSW cup teams, and certain “favourite” teams get byes at the right times, while teams like Penrith and Cronulla are made to play without their best players for 3 weeks a year, sometimes 6 depending on who backs up.
The whole NRL has massive holes and flaws in logic and nobody seems to give a rats arse about it. The game could be so much better but it is caught in mediocrity from all levels, to the draw, to the refereeing, at least the McIntyre is finally dead.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:43pm
Kim Hart said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
I really hope you aren’t a lawyer because your ‘it’s not really the rules because I reckon it’s wrong’ defence is laughable.
July 6th 2012 @ 1:20pm
JVGO said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Bad laws and bad interpretations of laws are changed every day of the week KH. The amendment clause that Harrigan quoted as justification for the Hodges try was only introduced in 2011 for chrissake. For the103 years before that Harrigan acknowledged that it would not have been a try.
July 6th 2012 @ 9:46am
Jay said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:46am | Report comment
You have shown yourself to be a man of the utmost integrity sir. Well done.
I too agree that it looked like a fair try. But here’s the problem. Two referees and a video ref in the game and there are still MAJOR disagreements on decisions. And not just among regular punters. Even when the experts can’t agree on these major decisions (eg Wally Lewis) you have to ask why.
I’m not here to debate particular decisions. Rather, it is obvious that there were enough MAJOR contentious decisions either awarded or missed. This indicates there are serious problems with either the rules, or the interpretation of them (which is a reflection on the ambiguity of some of them).
July 6th 2012 @ 9:55am
Will Sinclair said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Jay,
I don’t think the powers that be have done the referees any favours by constantly tinkering around the edge of the rules. It’s only served to complicate things, and the real strength of rugby league is it’s simplicity.
So, for example, while the Inglis try in Game I was technically a try, anyone who has been watching the game for any period of time recognised it as a clear knock on. The problem here was not with the referee, but with the rule itself.
Anyways – great series, better team (just about) won… so it’s all good.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:31pm
oikee said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
That’s right Will, and the other rule where if the ball is dislodged, it is play on, the Inglis try.
Makes you wonder why they changed these rules, and who changed them, because clearly league fans dont like them.
I dont, and i keep bringing up the Torso rule, if the ball hits your body and goes forward, it is play on?
Why not just keep it simple, if it hits any part of your body and goes forward, Knock on.
It also looks better for tv veiwers, and new comers to the game, straight away they know the ball is knocked forward so they expect to see a scrum or stoppage.
This will also get rid of the Torso rule in scoring, either put it down with your nads ( i just reread this, and yes, somehow i have wrote nads, instead of hands.),,,or this is no try.
Keep it Simple Stupid, the KISS law.
July 6th 2012 @ 1:27pm
Will Sinclair said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
You’re right about that knock-on rule, Oikee. It’s a farce.
I remember watching a game not long ago where a short pass hit a decoy player flush in the chest and went over the try line… he followed through and grounded it and a try was awarded. I honestly could not believe it.
July 6th 2012 @ 1:11pm
JVGO said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
The bottom line is that two days after the event we should not be arguing about this. We should have had a non controversial clear cut winner. The fact is that over the course of the series there were way too many crucial controversial decisions and inconsistencies. It haxs been like this all season and I have no doubt will continue into the finals.
Harrigan is not the right man for the job. He has form as a ref who engineers a good contest, that was his reputation as a ref. he didn’t give penalties and let the game flow. That might be fine as a one off ref but as figure overseeing the adjudicating of the game that is not the right philosopy. The rules need to be clear cut, not based on opinion or circumstance. The reffing needs to be seen to have authority and integrity. At the moment it is a joke.
July 6th 2012 @ 4:52pm
oikee said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
If we did not argue and carry on like boofheads, we might as well take up golf.
Fair dinkum JVGO, your talking to a pack of salt of the earth nimrods, let us have our whinge.
July 6th 2012 @ 9:37am
Scott said | July 6th 2012 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Troy, it looks like you’ve got a bad case of Sticky Syndrome, or Gallenitis to use the medical term. It’s a condition affecting vast numbers of cockroaches this time of year, where the subject experiences delusions, severe paranoia and in some cases will actually throw their toys out of the pram while mindlessly chanting “gee eye is a new south welshman.”
Popular home remedies include whining on the internet, threatening to stop watching future origin matches, and demanding the refs be sacked. However, the only effective treatment is to have a couple of concrete pills and a pair of functioning halves. In severe cases a pair of prosthetic testicles must be surgically attached so the subject can once again wear big boy’s clothes instead of frilly pink panties a la Ben Creagh.
July 6th 2012 @ 11:50am
Queenslander Forever said | July 6th 2012 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more. This made me laugh out loud.
July 6th 2012 @ 12:39pm
oikee said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Classic, and you also forgot to mention blinkers, where all elbows and facials used by these roaches are not seen, or totally ignored.
Scott, brilliant mate.
July 6th 2012 @ 1:24pm
Raugeee said | July 6th 2012 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Do ya rckon we could lend em Cherry – Evans for next year? Twofold benefit: will make next years series interesting AND will blood the young fella for us.
July 6th 2012 @ 2:22pm
dogforlife said | July 6th 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Scott, that is nothing short of gold. That is quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve read in 6 weeks of banter.
July 6th 2012 @ 10:11am
MosmanBrumby said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:11am | Report comment
I was a true league fan but over the years I have fallen further in love with union for various reasons. I lived in Brisbane for many years and they love their league as radical as the kiwis love the union.. But I agree QLD are smart and just like the allblacks they bend and twist the rules to suit themselves and seem untouchable.I read an article just after game 1 by an independent analyst and they identified if i recall 10 or 11 offences that should have been penalised and 1 by nsw. Time and time again qld get away with it, it is as if they are a protected species and can do no wrong, is the arl scared or is it the board or mr channel 9s love affair with QLD. What ever it is this is why I and many people I talk to lose interest in origin as the team who best manipulates the laws win,dont get me wrong Qld have and are a great team but are they that good? No, this is not what I remember as a young boy watching Lewis and kenny employing these tactics and constantly getting away with it! Wake up ARL AFL and soccer will take over especially at grass roots.. Clean up your act be more consistent with the rules as that’s what any spectator wants, protect the players, outlaw the shoulder charge before someone gets killed, we all love aggression and a great legal tatics in a game. Maybe in 2013 nsw will wake Up and get smart and do the same, my guess is they wont get away with it though.. Good article agree 100 percent!
July 6th 2012 @ 10:26am
steve b said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:26am | Report comment
MB i know many that share your thoughts !!!!
July 6th 2012 @ 12:32pm
john said | July 6th 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
the independent analyst was employed by nsw and was not needed after game 2 so think what you like
please go watch union true rugby league fans will never stop watching i bet you only support your team when they are winning
July 6th 2012 @ 2:38pm
dogforlife said | July 6th 2012 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
Independent analyst employed by whom? If the courier mail had hired the so called “independent analyst” I’m wondering how the stats may change. It was a ploy, via the NSW media to help stickys cause and influence the refs for the remainder of the series nothing less and it seems alot of you took the bait.
Agree the refereeing is appauling in League of that there is no question, but it cuts both ways on the origin field. Also I dont understand how players are not penalised for contact to the head when a player is on the ground ie. forearms,elbows and palms to the head. No need for it, just makes them out to be grubs no matter who they play for.
July 6th 2012 @ 4:55pm
oikee said | July 6th 2012 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
Sounds like your nothing but a Cry Baby Blue, be honest, look in the mirror, what do you see.
Yes, same as the rest of us.
July 6th 2012 @ 10:28am
john b said | July 6th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Ricky is going to meet wiuth referees again. What can this achieve?
Always blame the officials when he loses.
The big problem is Qjand have 2 Games next year so 8 series is already a distinct possibillity.