Luckless Kiwis bemoan video ref rulings

Thought it was a tough penalty against JWH,and that the loss had nothing to do with any of the forwards they were all outstanding.Isaac Luke was just as dangerous as Smith last night and hit much harder.Kearney should have spent 10 k in the press box like Ricky did last week,the only way we'll get change.Why,oh why are some sides told to wait before they can restart with their quick 25 meter tap until the ref gets into position whilst some aren't ?

If I were a Kiwi punter, putting some cash on the kiwis to defend their title would certainly not be a stupid idea based on Friday night. Australia had their best side on the paddock yet NZ matched it with them for say 55-60 minutes with a severely understrength side. You add - SBW, Benji, Jeremy Smith, Kasiano, Eastwood, Inu and their captain Mannering back into this squad that will play in 6 week tournament and it's a whole different ball game. Looking forward to the world cup, we as in the kangaroos have work to do.

It's got to stay mate, internationals are the highest honour in the game and the passion that you will see at the world cup will be something else. Yeah this game could be played on Anzac day but there's no need to change that now....it's come a long way since it first started in 1998 and is played consistently in front of sell out clouds and huge television audiences. The game is starting to have meaning and the kiwis are starting to get there....scrapping the game is the last thing that needs to happen. It will undo all the good work up until now.

All Blacks

Once again Australia do everything they can illegally to keep a hold on their so called number one ranking. If it's not ruling out Kiwi players by club doctors then it's from the judicary. Happens every year without fail. The referee performance was the most blatant cheating i have ever seen in rugby league. It was disgraceful how blatant it was. You only have to look at the amount of games hosted by Australia compared to New Zealand to understand how disgracefully biast the whole system is toward Australia. Is there any other international team in any sport who has had such a huge biast when it comes to hosting matches? If it's not drug cheating it's match fixing. Australian sport is disgraceful.

The Torso rule is killing the game, the video refs are killing the game, and the eligibilty rules are killing the game. Tonga Verse samoa was 10 times more exciting. This game is screaming out for expansion into the international arena, yet we still persist on killing the island nations by not letting their players play for their nations. The pride passion and following is streets ahead because the contest is not one sided one eyed like the kangaroos seem to be. They also need to start penalising the Aussies for head shots and holding down in tackles. Cam Smith gets away with to much wrestling, penalise him so he stops doing it, the amount of times he had his hand in the ruch is rediculous and spoiling a good contest. He is the difference between the 2 sides. Once he retires it will be a different ball game. But still, the refs allow him to much leadway. They need to feel for the game, a penalty here or their wont hurt anyone. But penalising the kiwis all the time just kills a great contest. Refs are needed, 2 of them , and the kiwis need to make sure they get into their ears and ask for them to keep a eye on holding and grabbing. It is getting ugly.

Going to the video ref is also killing the contest. I can give some examples and maybe international tests need to just have 2 refs and get rid of the video ref unless they really need to use them. The try by Alex Glen was a try. He come down on top of the ball and it spewed out. Should have been awarded. The video ref seemed to be asleep. When Cam Smith ran behind his own player, and then the ball bobbled off Billy Slater, the ref should have just blown his whistle. These straight forward dogs breakfast knockonathons should never be sent to the video ref. Blow your whistle and call a scrum. Why do they instist on sending it to the video. It is messy and a waste of time then they still make the wrong call as far as i am concerned. They say try, i say no try. So it is the dogs breakfast that we tried to get rid of by going to the video refs, we allow them to make mistakes. I dont care if the video ref tries to tell me it is a try, no it is not, i thought otherwise. So the video ref is useless in this case and the ref would have been better of just to blow his whistle and call a knock-on. It really is that simple. And if the ball comes off his torso, blow the whistle, knock-on. This is where the game is falling down badly because of this dinosaur Torso rule. It should be kicked out of the rules. I keep asking when this will happen. We can all see it is a shmables, a complete dogs breakfast that gets sent to the video and never gets called right. One simple rule change will fix all that mess. Off your Torso is a knockon, fullstop. The other mistake Klein made was a fifth tackle penalty. The guy tackles him around the legs, and because he struggled to get up, he called the penalty. This is again why Klein should never ref again. He has no feel for the game, and he did not reward a good tackle, he penalised it.

Enjoy Kellet_1992 soak up all the pre-game energy of the bigit will be an awesome day, I can't wait say hi to the fam, it will be a good day one of the best days now in the Australian sports calander, enjoy the big match,

I have 6 - 1:30pm. The moment I finish work... OFF TO PARENTS to watch all the pre match and final! It will be a great final I hope and I don't know who to barrack for.

kellett_1992 Some good points and good schedule. The rugby union Euro grand slam applies to when the 4 match tour is the British Isles and Irleand (you beat England/Scotland/Wales/ireland) in 4 weeks straight. Other games vs France and italy don't apply. I agree NRL is no 1. and internationals no 2. rugby in europe club.country is split I believe now, in OZ in rugby international's come first, then super rugby. And go WSW , hope they win, enjoy the grand final tomorrow kellet__1992. I'm gonna witch it, i can't wait, the whole family is having a big BBQ tomorrow to celebrate the big day.

Johnno, I really don't discuss Union that often, too busy wrapped up in football, then league. But being a Reds fan and Wallabies supporter I shall give it my best to answer. I like the European Tour. The key difference we have here in making comparison to one off tests is: * the amount of preperation time... * International matches are continually played prior to this tour. Rugby League: * Barely any preperation time in regards to playing structures, tactics etc. * No matches for the team are put together and its a one off test! These one off tests that the Wallabies encounter against Euro foe is important in my opinion and there is adeqaute time for preperation and these teams we face also are afforded the same respect. Isn't it called the Slam or something like that. Winning all four? Its a very tough achievement and making any comparison to League is in my opinion, very silly and I will never resort to doing so. This is how I go in terms of support and interest Rugby League: 1st NRL 2nd Internationals Union: 1st Internationals 2nd Super 15

True kellet_1992, NRL is the boss it comes first as does channel 9. But what do you make of wallaby end of season tour to europe, that is 4 tests over 4 weekends, each only playing 1 country 1 time, surely that is bubble gum and gimmicky too. And exhibition match style too. There will be no cutting of the NRL season, channel 9 and NRL don't want that, no way $$$. Only option is off-season. And this "so called" rep weekend, whatever that really means I still don't think the NRL no what that definition means in the context. It's hard to take a city vs country match seriously, same with a 1-off test agreed.

Johnno, Maybe this discussion would be better suited to this sort of question... With a re-structuring of the international calendar, will this take into account NRL? The NRL comes first. Full stop! International scene is a joke! You can't re-structure the international scene if the NRL comes first. Otherwise id start with ANZAC TEST on ANZAC Day. This thursdays up and coming matches are less important than Australia vs NZ. BUT channel 9 is the BOSS and will do whatever they want to get viewers.

A mascot of negativity I'm usually not, But this time I can't dispute. For first half was simply amazing, But the second was surely to boot. I enjoy the tussle of international rivalry, But this is beyond a joke. I'll see the match as a whole, that's for sure, I won't discount that. But for what is meant to be the top two? The endorsement... A joke... And all fool you! :D

kellet_1992 can you give me a proposal and re-structuring of the international calendar that would be better. The point is the tv ratings will probably be good for this match. Yes it had an exhibition feel to it, but it also had a serious side. World cup spots are up for grabs so there was something to play for. Yes the exhibition side did come out with regards to kicking for goal. Both teams had kicks at goal penally offerings, but chose to run it. If it was a world cup grand final, they would of taken the 2 points. And that did kinda annoy me, as it devalued last night's match a bit. And they were not playing for anything, but for the promotion of the game I thought it was good. But kellet_1992 what then do you make of the wallabies end of season annual Europe tour. They play 4 tests, and only 1 off tests vs 4 different countries. Surely that is exhibition game style and gimmicky by nature too.

Ahh Kellett and Turbo the two mascots of negativity....seriously you focus on the second half but I see it a different way, I think the first half was the best 40 minutes of rugby league I've seen this year. The kiwis were understrength while Australia played with its strongest line up....I wouldn't be too disappointed if I were a NZder.

The 25,000 probably sounded louder, maybe... But the past few raiders games have had far less attendance and far more enthusiasm to the game being played. Either play the test on ANZAC Day, or don't play it at all. This is international rugby league?? I thought that second half was an under 20's showing! Pathetic defence from the best players in the world? I like the concept, I understand the concept, my grand fathers are ANZAC's. I respect the game... What I don't respect is the effort, time of the match, enthusiasm.. Etc!

got a link to the article?

Hodges swap is fine, and a good replacement, too easy. So you would prefer Nathan Merritt or Darell Trindall ricky walford, on the bench over Anthony Mundine. Disagree Cliff Lyons was a tough one to leave out though. Greg Bird is a better player than Ian Russell ever was. Maybe Ian Russell over Dean Widders. And also maybe Jeff Hardy over Dean Widders. A guy like Robbie Simpson had lots of talent , but fell away, and Lee Hookey was more of a back than a forwad. The one problem in Indigenous rugby league is forwad depth. A good starting pack then it get's light on. Dale Shearer over both chicka, Larry Corowa and any other wingers I can think off.

I agree, it was a lacklustre affair. The only way tests between Aust & NZ can be made interesting is to have an Enlish referee. The Kiwis need to be able to get away with illegal roughouse tactics. The try decisions last night were also atrocious. If I was a Kiwi fan I would be livid. As a Wallabies fan I undestand what it's like to be the underdog, your team needs all the help they can get. Decisons going he way of the superior side just make the task so much harder. Having said that, the far better team won last night.