Parramatta say they have been overwhelmed by the support the club has received following coach Ricky Stuart’s tirade at the standard of NRL refereeing and are seriously considering appealing the breach notice handed down by the game’s governing body.
The Eels were hit with a $10,000 breach notice by the NRL on Monday over comments Stuart made in the post-game press conference after their 28-22 loss to Gold Coast on Sunday.
Stuart’s comments came on the back of a lopsided penalty count with the premiership-winning mentor claiming: “It’s only because they’re a very easy team to penalise.
“We don’t have any of the higher-profile players where you can milk the penalty.
“It’s bullshit. I just feel so sorry for the players.”
A furious Stuart also questioned whether referees Jason Robinson and Adam Gee were up to first-grade standard.
The former NSW and Australia coach let fly with a number of expletives, which were bleeped out on footage of the press conference on both the NRL and Eels websites.
The Eels issued a statement on Tuesday apologising for Stuart’s language but seemingly not for the comments he made and it is understood the club is weighing up its options.
“The Parramatta Eels and head coach Ricky Stuart wish to apologise for any offence taken from the language used in the post-match press conference,” the statement said.
“The NRL has informed the club that it will be given 10 days to respond to the notice. The club will use that time to review the breach before making any further comment.”
The response to Stuart’s comments led Parramatta chief executive Ken Edwards to post on his Twitter account: “overwhelmed by support for Rick & boys”.
The club has until Friday next week to respond to the breach notice.
A flood of penalties, 7-0 at one stage, went against Parramatta in the second half of the match they led 22-8 before the home side hit the lead with an Albert Kelly try in the 72nd minute.
The incident follows another refereeing controversy in Brisbane’s 12-10 win over North Queensland on Friday night and again thrusts the spotlight back onto referees boss Daniel Anderson and his officials.
Referees Ashley Klein and Phil Haines somehow allowed the Cowboys an eight-tackle set as they pressed the home side’s line late in the first half of the round-six Suncorp Stadium clash.
On Saturday, Anderson admitted his officials had erred.
Meesta Cool
Guest
I have said before and I repeat, these kind of outbursts should be conducted outside the media and in a situation where BOTH sides have right of reply. All 'Sticky' is doing is using character assasination to make the refs feared of over penalising his team. I would like to see a review panel formed to closely watch this game set by set and either justify Ricky's claims -- by charting a possible penalty count for BOTH sides, If the refs were as bad as Ricky says, then by all means take action against them, If not, then take further action against their accuser and the club that are backing this nonsense. Oikee and I have both watched this game a second time and neither can find anything unusually biased in the adjudication of the men in the middle. Ricky MUST be told that this sort of outburst is unacceptable, Eels management must be responsible for their coach. (This applies to any coach or Club that chooses to attack the officials in front of the cameras or press). Maybe it's time for the commission to have a close look at media interviews directly after a match, possibly having a delayed transmission so that these kind of outbursts can be blocked from 'going to air'..
The eye
Guest
8 tackles was part payment for being rorted out of last years finals for the cowboys,refs owe them quite a few more favours yet.
Gareth
Roar Pro
Why would the club be getting behind this? They should impose their own fine on Sticky, or at the very least let him pay it out of his own pocket. History suggests that they'll be looking to terminate his contract well before it's up and they really should be starting to build their case against him to avoid having to pay it out. Besides which - why go out of your way to create bad blood? If the referees didn't have a bias against the Eels - they do now.
oikee
Guest
Lets look at last weekends games. Since Daniel Anderson got rid of the silly obstruction rule he tried to apply, well the results speak for themselves. I never heard one complaint about the refs all weekend, not one. The Warriors got beaten by a brilliant comeback by the raiders. great game. And Elliot did not blame the refs. No lets look at what we had here, a brilliant comeback by the Titans, and what happened. Ricky decided to blame the refs. Now lets look a little further, something still stinks at Parramatta, this club is not right if they are defending Ricky and want to bring further angst agains thim and this club,. Because you can watch that game 20 times and i have seen it twice myself, there is nothing wrong with the second half Reffing. Not a thing. Parramatta are kidding themselves if they think they can bring the refs into dispute over this, and the Club should be fined a extra 100 thousand dollars if they try. It is time the refs are not used as scapegoats for poor disapline or poor handling skills or player behaviour. I thought Parramatta played really good, fantastic footy. The Titans were fantastic with their comeback. Then the next day i read this rubbish. Fine them NRL, sink the boot into these muppets, no wonder Parramatta have been polishing the spoons, the staff are blind as well.
Rabby
Guest
Hope they do, Chance to right the wrong and levy $100k fine