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Sometimes you have to laugh because if you try and find logic in a ridiculous situation, it can become bad for your health. I’ve been accused in the past of being over-critical of the current crop of NRL referees, and I thought I could make it to the end of the season without having another crack. But they just make it so hard to do so.
My latest problem? Possibly the worst video referee decision you’ll see this season.
Last night, the Dragons were up 6-nil against Manly in the 30th minute when Mark Gasnier barged his way over the line. Referee Matt Cecchin called for assistance from above, but instead, got one of the most baffling calls I’ve ever seen.
Gasnier clearly dropped the ball over the line as he was met by three defenders.
It was dribbling the Harlem Globetrotters would’ve been proud of. Replay after replay showed Gasnier had lost control of the pill and even the most die-hard Dragons fan would’ve been expecting the red light to come up on the scoreboard.
Instead, what do we get? Drum roll please … “try … Benefit of the doubt.”
What! Did you press the wrong button? It was the red one you were looking for! We’re you distracted by the kid selling over-priced coke and mars bars? I’m trying to find an excuse, but I just can’t.
Greg Alexander, who was calling the game for Fox Sports, was stunned. He said “you can’t bounce the ball and score a try”. Well, Brandy, apparently you can.
His colleague Warren Smith added “that’s in the Olympic final for all time poor decisions”.
Immediately after the ruling Manly co-captain Jamie Lyon wandered over to referee Shayne Hayne, hoping for an explanation. Needless to say the conversation was brief. When Lyon pointed out that Gasnier had bounced the ball more times than Gary Ablett Jnr on his way to goal, he was told, that’s not what the video referee thought.
In normal time it looked like a try, but on the slow-motion replay it was clear Gasnier had dropped the ball. So if the NRL is going to have a video referee what is the point of ignoring what technology tells him?
I’m not going to single out the video referee responsible for the howler because I believe this is just the latest in a long line of mistakes from the men in the box.
In the end, the decision didn’t really determine the outcome of the match. The Dragons fully deserved their 32 to 10 win.
I’m happy to excuse the little mistakes because the game is played at a rapid rate and the on-field referees are only human.
But the video referee has all the resources in the world available to him. Mistakes like this one shouldn’t be made with the finals just around the corner.
What happens if the same mistake is made in the 79th minute of the grand final with the scores tied?
Are we watching the same game? Sometimes i doubt it.
You can follow Luke on twitter @luke_doherty and on Sky News Australia.
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