Souths vs Manly last Friday was as bruising and intense a battle as you will have seen in a regular season fixture.
There was an extraordinary atmosphere at the ground, a near capacity crowd of real league people, Manly fans baying for blood, the burrow in full flight and two teams made up of some of the most willing players you will ever see.
Both teams were awesome in their strength and endurance.
In a match that had it all, most of the post-match commentary has centred on whether Richie Fa’aoso should have received marching orders for his spear tackles on Greg Inglis.
On one side of the divide there are those who are adamant the referee should have dismissed the offending player.
On the other side we have heard many rationalisations, including that Inglis dives once his legs are caught, he stands in the tackle with his legs parted and that as a result defenders only get one leg.
We also have heard the ridiculous theory that Inglis’ running and ball carrying style predisposes him to spear tackles.
The referees sit on the fence with the ultimate fence-sitting tool at their disposal – the ‘on report’ call.
This enables them to recognise foul play but avoid controversy and maintain balance in the game.
This is not an article criticising referees, it is completely understandable they would be extremely hesitant to send a player off.
But consider that in awarding a try the referee can refer a decision to a video ref, who can scrutinise events to confirm or deny the refs call.
For a referee to send off a player they should at least have the same level of support.
How can we expect them to make a decision like this in a split second? We at home watch several replays before becoming adamant it is a send off.
Back to Manly vs Souths, in such an intriguing contest would it have been a good result to have Fa’aoso sent off with plenty of time still remaining in the contest?
That decision would have certainly killed off the contest with Manly on the ropes and would have been a very disappointing end to a game that enjoyed an outstanding build up in the two weeks before and had lived up to the hype.
A send off would have robbed fans of a proper conclusion to what was a fantastic contest and, in all likelihood, a finals preview.
In saying this, Fa’aoso definitely should have been sent off.
A solution the NRL should consider is allowing replacement of a player who is sent off.
In the modern game losing a player off the forward rotation is a huge disadvantage. If it was a back it would cause a reshuffle of the team. This would add intrigue to a contest rather than bursting it like a balloon with a send off.
It’s fair compensation to the aggrieved team.
Unless a team was well in front, it’s extremely unlikely they could win with only 12 on the field. Manly with 12 would have been no chance, fans would have started heading for the exit.
Replacement of send offs would also help referres to be be more decisive as they can take the necessary action while keeping the game alive, it’s part of the solution along with a card system for foul play and professional fouls and video ref to support send off decisions.
Noel
Guest
Don't worry the referees are well and truly capable of handling send offs if the situation and the powers that be wants it that way , my personal opinion , as a referee with considerable experience , is that send offs should be available for serious acts of foul play . If we go down this path teams need to be very aware that a serious offence will incur a send off . Player and team education would be paramount and the eventual acceptance by both clubs and fans alike would come with time . Something else is also vital , and that is referees need to have a very good handle on feel for rhe game and players alike , to get it right when making such serious decisions . Two examples of a referee out of touch last weekend were (1) when Scot Prince was penalised for staying too long in the tackle when all he was doing was asking the player if he was ok after suffering an injury in in the tackle , this became obvious when the player took some time to resume , and again Watmough was penalised in similar circumstances , on against Souths , in front of his own goal posts , two tackles later Suttonj scored beside the posts , after a restart of the tackle count . referees , as well as being competent in their knowledge of the rules of play , need to have an inherant feel for player intent and for the game in general .,
Jayson
Guest
If Carry over points are held from year to year, why cant the 1st week of a players suspension be carried over to the next time that player plays the team the suspension was against even if it's the following season (and even in a different team) ? eg. Fa'aoso got 8 weeks, he misses 7 weeks starting this weekend and 1 week next time he play's against Souths.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
Completely agree!
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
+1
angry bird
Guest
This article nails the problem and offers the solution. just give the video ref power to nominate whether the send off is deliberate or careless. Deliberate offences mean the player cannot be replaced. This stops the 'Hitman' outcome from ever eventuated. I would also give deliberate send offs an automatic 3 week suspension. Careless offences mean the player is replaced but takes no further part in the game. Faosa's spear tackle would have been careless. Same goes for Matai. B.Stewart's elbow deliberate, same for Burgess coming in and throwing haymakers.
Dan Vella
Roar Rookie
The idea that if send offs could be replaced that it would result in clubs employing hit men is off the mark. How many clubs have room in their salary cap for players to put on a dog hit and then sit on the sidelines for 6 weeks? The game was different back when les Davidson and terry lamb were around when many a blind eye was turned and 'the biff' alive and well. The idea that reducing a team to 12 men is the deterrent is also a moot point as the refs are simply not prepared to make quick decisions on send offs due to lack of support available in terms of video and because of the influence it would have on games. If it was an effective deterrent we wouldn't have this article or any of the comments. Agree with earlier point that sin bin should be used more, however once again it's a huge call without being able to refer to video ref.
Dr NRL
Roar Rookie
Planko, it was clearly deliberate. Everyone knows you can strike in an upward direction and hit ball first before sliding into the head. The NRL judiciary is too prone to their eyes glazing over when a human movement 'specialist' spins a yarn. Having said that, a grade 1 is a nothing grading. Either they felt is was an accident (and he slipped up), or it was deliberate and all the rest, and warranted a harsher grading.
Dr NRL
Roar Rookie
No, you simply and absolutely cannot replace a player sent from the field for foul play. Unless you want to encourage wanton violence, that is. The NRL has a duty of care to safeguard against this type of thuggery, and it hasn't even made a good fist of that. It's not a prison match, it's professional football. There is no issue to discuss about whether a team reduced to 12 players. If a coach is serious about his team's chances, he won't pick players who are liable to leave his team in that predicament. If I were David Smith and Greg Inglis was in a wheelchair by mid-season, let's just say that wouldn't be a good look, not to mention how many lawyers would be coming at me, the NRL and the person who speared him into the ground, and his coach presumably.
Lou
Guest
Don't flatter yourself , Clive has brains, and talks sense your lost
oikee
Guest
Hehe, love the Oikee dartboard, just put a picture of Clive up, we are much one and the same.
Lou
Guest
Scott prince is oikees idea of a "markee" player don't forget Wallace !!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLO
Lou
Guest
Meesta don't forget we will also use your head to drill for oil , and if ya don't like it you will be gang bashed, as for the Oikee dart board , can't be done his head is to big
eagleJack
Guest
What's a Markee player you dimwit?
oikee
Guest
Hehe, Monday night Manly are now where they belong, out of sight, out of mind. We have million, 2 million cities wanting a NRL team while Manly slip slidwe around on Monday night footy. The Friday Night Broncos are just the beginning, of the rise and rise of Powerhouse NRL clubs. Once we rid the game of propped up clubs, the game can shine. Brisbane is not getting its full value because our feeder clubs and players have to prop up Sydney teams now they have let the NSW rugby league bush rot. Rot on the vine, dont try to fight Brisbane, or Queensland for that matter join us. We are the future, along with Perth 2 million plus, and Adelaide. I could start a team in adelaide from scratch and be bigger than Manly in 1 year.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Each person signing up for this app gets a free Knee in the groin from Watmough, A stiff arm attack at full speed from Mattai and a coward punch fro Stewart. and a free Oikee dartboard. it's user friendly.. hehehe
planko
Roar Guru
My grandma used to live in Jane Try stand with all of my Dad's parents of Ferret mates. She used to sneak me up the stairs and I used to sit on the steps next to her. Cant do that any more OHS etc etc. The other benefit of that stand was you were never looking into the 4pm Sun.
Eagle Rock
Guest
You haven't been at the footy unless you've been and watched from the Jane Try stand , don't know how ya get there ask Lou, he got me in, as for the app Manly Warringah Sea Eagles is what it's called , it's a beauty , get ya wings and you will have access to Manly TV and some great member only sites !!!
planko
Roar Guru
LOL Oikee manly make more money out 20k at Brookvale than Brisbane make with 45k at Brisbane mate. Go and look at your profit and loss. Manly pays up keep of ground to Warringah council of under a million a year. It costs Brisbane 650 to 800 grand a game to play a game to play at Suncorp. Secondly the council just spent 5 million on one of the stands mate .... Matai one week , Stewart nothing and Fa oso will fight it.
oikee
Guest
No good trying to reason with Manly fans, the council are waiting for the couple of broken down stands and clubhouse to fall apart and slip into Manly cove. I just hope Dave Smith and Todd greenburg finally finish Manly off, they lose money every year unless they win a premiershiip, which wont happen anymore now the Broncos can spend millions on markee players. Brisbane Brothers will buy most of the leftover Manly crumbs once they shut them down. Manly cant survive, 6 to 10 thousand crowds are a thing of the past, or should be in our code. Cronulla Sharks can move to the North Coast, where they belong.
Haz
Guest
But the balance has shifted in the last 20 years. In the modern game, we want to punish the player without necessarily punishing the rest of the team and the fans. if any team went down 12 players vs 13, they would lose. Putting a player on report means they'll face an individual penalty, without hurting the rest of the team for that game. But I like this suggestion of keeping 13 on the field, but making it 16 vs 17. There is a penalty to the rest of the team, but it's not so drastic that it's a gimme for the opposing team.