Manly coach Geoff Toovey has launched a surprising attack on the two NRL referees who oversaw the Sea Eagles’ 20-12 loss to Canterbury on Friday night.
A visibly angry Toovey said his men were let down by several decisions by Brett Cummins and Brett Suttor in the much-anticipated grudge match marking the return of Bulldogs coach Des Hasler to Brookvale Oval.
“(The Bulldogs) had a bit of luck, but I think the two blokes in the middle didn’t help,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“I have to query the league and say where’s the best two referees in the game for this game tonight? Because the blokes in the middle were definitely not the best two for this job.
“They had terrible games. Terrible decisions.
“I can’t wait until they try and explain some of them.”
Toovey questioned the decision to allow the Bulldogs’ second try, accusing winger Sam Perrett of being a metre offside from Josh Reynolds kick.
He also labelled the penalties “a lucky dip” and said the Bulldogs got the “fair rub of the green” when it came to certain decisions.
“Maybe, like other coaches in the competition, I need to go have a meeting with them, like certain other coaches do,” Toovey said.
“I’ve had discussions at the beginning of the year and, mate, they just say ‘no, you’re wrong and we’re right’. That’s it, that’s as far as it goes.
“It’s pointless.”
Co-captain Jamie Lyon agreed with his coach’s call for a return to one central referee, saying his appeals to the on-field officials fell on deaf ears.
“They don’t listen,” he said.
“I definitely tried to talk to them a couple of times.
“(They said) they’ll look at it and tell you to go away, like they usually do.
“Once they get their mind made up, that’s it. They don’t want to go into too much.”
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