St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett branded deliberate a late challenge from Manly’s Jason King on Dragons centre Kyle Stanley in a fiery NRL clash at WIN Stadium.
With old enemies Mark Gasnier and Steve Matai having already clashed twice and two players also being placed on report, it was King’s apparent use of a knee to nudge Stanley after the second of his two tries in the 67th minute that infuriated Bennett.
“Of course it was intentional,” Bennett said.
“It was ridiculous to think it was unintentional.
“Kyle had put the ball down and had run four or five metres and someone comes and makes a collision with him.
“That’s about as deliberate as you are going to get anything.”
Stanley appeared to suffer only a minor injury in the incident, but Bennett believes action should have been taken.
“I was really disappointed with the action the referees took,” he said.
” … That’s why you don’t want those things happening in a game because tomorrow it could be someone else and all of sudden he’s got an injury and he’s off the ground.
“That’s why the rules are what they are.”
Stand-in Dragons captain Nathan Fien questioned the referees on the field but was told contact was “accidental”.
King, whose action is now likely to be scrutinised by the NRL’s match review committee, defended the incident.
“I was running through trying to stop him getting any closer to the posts,” King said.
“I didn’t intentionally do anything.
“He collided with my outside leg. It’s not my responsibility to get out of his way.
“There are no hard feelings. They are entitled to have their opinion.”
Bennett’s anger overshadowed the other boiling points in a physical battle in Wollongong.
Matai and Gasnier first clashed when the Kiwi international was placed on report for a swinging arm on Dragons winger Jason Nightingale in the 24th minute.
Fien had earlier been placed on report for a high shot on Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart in the 19th.
Manly co-captain Jamie Lyon said he didn’t think there was much in Matai’s hit.
“From where I was it looked like it got him in the back,” Lyon said.
Terry Kidd
Guest
I see that Mattai has been charged but King has not been charged ..... WTF? Where is the consistency in the Match Review Committee?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I dont know what it is about King at times.A guy studying law,seems to test the laws of' the game at times.That was a poor shot IMO on Stanley. And would someone get Mattai off the angry pills.He throws out unsuspecting cheap shots,like a bar room brawler. There is nothing wrong with aggression,in a full body contact sport,but what appears to be thuggery should be clamped down upon.Immediatement.The guy has talent,but still hasn't learnt how to us it.
Mals
Guest
Don't worry Oikee I look forward to the overrated Manly (again) beating the Broncos on their home turf - Suncorp Stadium, in round 26 :-)
oikee
Guest
I agree Scotty, if you had Cooper and Thornby, with Fein playing hooker, i think it could have got quite ugly for the sea eagles. Anyhow, just pleased that the Saints did a good job on this Manly side, i have said they are over-rated for weeks now, while all the Sydney media have been crawling all over them.
scott
Guest
well you only need to look at last nights result to see theres plently of fire left in us, but yes, ive been known to hold a grudge. against the touchies of course, not the broncos. and yes, rose looked like he had eaten a small child last night.
oikee
Guest
I see you hold a grudge, mate Brisbane bounched the Dragons right back to woollygong, took the fire outta ya. We are talking about Manly and trying to use thug tactics to win games. And what about jelly belly Rose, making use of his guts in tackles, even my wife (union fan) noticed him, she said who is that fat guy on the field. ??? He should be banned until he loses 20 kilo. :)
scott
Guest
i thought there was some staggeringly poor refereeing in this game. Why wasnt King at the very least reported for careless contact with Stanley? It obviously hurt Stanley as he got up limping, and he'd already bagged the try so what motivation did he have to milk it? It was not accidental. Mattai was yet again a serial offender and was only picked up only once for his thug tactics. And where the hell was the touchie when David Williams knocked it over the sideline in the first half??? Even he knew it was off him!! Im beginning to think that only blind touchies are assigned to dragons games after last weeks blatant forward pass and sideline incursion were overlooked and allowed brisbane to win.
Jimbo
Guest
Not sure how you came up with your assertion that the manly forwards got found out last night - look at the yardage stats for both teams. The manly halves were poor and their fifth tackle options were appalling. That and the outstanding dragons defense decided the match. The manly forwards did their job; the backs did not
Mals
Guest
At least get his name right - Jamie Lyon - if you are going to attack him! There is no 's' on the end. Not much was made of the Williams no try because Lyon barely touched Morris! Stanley's 1st try was a joke. Not only did he knock the ball on in the air but then not going for the ball, he ripped Williams arm away from the ball. This should have been a penalty to Manly!
NickF
Guest
funny how not much has been made of Lyons holding back Morris in the No Try decision in the first half. A correct decision, but surley it says a lot about Lyons' character. This was a dilberate action, a professional foul, and certainly not in the spirit of the game. And he is the captain. Lead by example eh.
NickF
Guest
Bieng a Kiwi, I don't think Matai is eligible. I think his motivation was somewhat less noble than trying to impress selectors.
Jimbo
Guest
Oikee, the metres gained last night were almost exactly equal - 1343m for st George against 1333 for manly, so I'm not sure how you came up with your assertion that manly's forwards were found out. The manly halves were both pretty poor and their 5th tackle options in the st George 20 were appalling. The brilliant st George defense and the failure of the manly backline to create any penetration lost them the game, not the forwards -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Stu
Guest
Maybe he used a cheap shot so show sticky that he is worthy of a blues jersey. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Mals
Guest
Jason King played very well last night, so it was a shame to see him collide with Stanley. He was the best forward on the park. Not necessary to come into contact as the try had already been completed, leave the kid to celebrate. Matai has always been a goose, he had been keeping a lid on it this season until last night's game. For some reason he had point to prove with Nightingale.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Yeah, Mattai's swinging arm looked very unecessary regardless of where he actually hit Nightingale .... the guy is simply a cheapshot merchant which is a pity because he can play some good footy. I reckon Jason King could be in worse trouble. No way was that accidental and to say "I was just trying to stop him getting closer to the posts" is ludicrous when Stanley had already put the ball down many seconds earlier. King had plenty of time to pull out of his run through. I didn't see Fien's high shot on Stewart so can't comment on that.
oikee
Guest
I was hoping that lunatic Matai hit Gasnier, then we could ban him for 12 to 15 weeks. All this guy ever does is highshots and swinging arms, it is becoming obvious to all that watch the game, along with most of the Manly forwards with knees in tackles and elbows to players heads. The fat Manly forwards got found out last nite, over-weight, over paid, over rated. When are the Bears coming back. ? :)