I’m all for player protection and on a good day can even be persuaded that outlawing the shoulder-charge completely – rather than just policing it better – was a good idea. But the Jared Waerea-Hargreaves send-off was ridiculous.
It wasn’t the only bad call the referees made last weekend, but in a game of such magnitude, it stood out the most.
With the match delicately poised in the Roosters’ favour, Waerea-Hargreaves stood his ground as Manly forward George Rose ran full pelt towards him. Starting almost from a crouch, the Roosters enforcer thrust upwards and Rose seemed to stumble slightly as he approached.
The result was a massive blow, which laid the Sea Eagle flat and saw Waerea-Hargreaves become the first player sent for an early shower this season.
Ironically, JWH was levelled in a similar hit by Simon Dwyer in the finals in 2010, but that was the old days when shoulder charging was routine and we all still loved a bit of contact.
Dwyer was not sent off in that classic match. Nor was he sin-binned, or even penalised.
In fact Waerea-Harvgreaves said ”I thought it was a clean, legit tackle. Hats off to him – he got me a beauty.”
Although that might have had something to do with the Roosters winning the game.
I wouldn’t have a problem with JWH’s sending off on Monday – or other calls made that weekend – if there was a bit of consistency in the rulings.
Why weren’t Richie Fa’oso and Jason King more harshly reprimanded when Manly hosted the Rabbitohs in Round 7 and they each dropped Greg Inglis on his head?
Shouldn’t Fa’oso at least have been sent to the bin the second time he did it?
Sure, a few weeks’ worth of suspensions were handed out, but what good is that to the Bunnies in the context of that match?
There is another example from that fiery Round 7 clash.
Ever aggressive – and injured – centre Steve Matai collects George Burgess around the face with a stray forearm but stays on the pitch even though there was clear contact with the head.
George’s brother Sam then throws a few punches and an all-in brawl ensues.
Still no one gets marched.
But when Mitch Allgood planted a high/late one on Peter Wallace and Josh McGuire started a melee at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night, both Allgood and McGuire get sent to the bin.
It makes no sense.
So I guess my gripe isn’t with the JWH decision itself, it’s with the lack of consistency across the board from the referees.
Don’t even get me started on Will Zillman’s disallowed try for the Titans against the Dragons on Sunday…
Is it possible that referees can have form slumps?
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
I agree that the suspension was pretty harsh for JWH - can see both sides of the argument for the send off too. It's great that his comeback is against Manly too! Not sure how Souths' popularity relates to favourable onfield decisions though....Andrew Everingham just got two weeks for a pretty innocuous offense.
Clark
Guest
In my opinion it warranted a send off, hit him flush and did not seem accidental judging by the swinging arm motion. But I think the suspension was a bit harsh, but you do have to take his previously loading points into consideration. But from what I've seen so far this year, everyone has become Souths cheerleaders and as a result will get favourable calls and lenient punisment for foul play, I mean everybody knows how much worse the Rabbits will be without Inglis or Sam & George Burgess
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
The only thing I can think of in relation to Matai is that the original contact - as you say - was with the ball, before bouncing up. I was at that game and the refs had a few looks at it on the big screen but took no action. JWH on the other hand made direct contact with the face. Yeah Everingham was very hard done by I thought. Bad call that's now going to count as loading for him in the future.
Daniel Vella
Guest
send offs should be replaced like in basketball when players foul out. in the game losing a player out f the rotation would hurt and this will allow refs to be more decisive and also will stop all the conjectue about send offs. If a payer get suspended after the game for an offence then it stands to reason that they shouldn't e able to continue the game following the offence. Equally when a player is suspended we don't expect them to play with 12 men for the weeks the player is suspended. lets make it easier on the refs to be decisive in cases of foul play.
Dr NRL
Roar Rookie
Matai's stiff arm on Burgess was worse to my mind. Intentional upward contact on the ball which, 90% of the time, will cannon into the head. Just remember the JWH was a Grade 1 - hardly send-off material. The other unlucky guy this week was Everingham don't you think?
Dr NRL
Roar Rookie
I was kidding. Of course we will have no such thing. Referees are like goldfish. They've already forgotten that you can't be in front of the kicker at kick off.
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
My view is the same no matter who the player is. Every penalty, sin-bin sending off etc should be determined on the seriousness of the infringement, not the player who commits it. I'm not saying that JWH's hit shouldn't be punished somehow, I'm just pointing out the many inconsistencies in refereeing so far this season. By sending JWH off, they're basically saying they've been getting it wrong for two months. Or they're changing the rules.
Tom
Guest
The consistency or lack thereof is the biggest problem with this decision, but if that is the standard to which they will send players off in future, I am fine with that. It is just the constantly changing interpretations without explanation that are frustrating. However, to those such as the author criticising this decision, would your opinion be different if the perpetrator was Steve Matai or Michael Ennis? And remember, JWH has quite a record with this type of tackle.
Ian
Guest
Pretty sure the 5 weeks had a lot to do with Maria's prior record, otherwise he was probably looking at 2-3.
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
I'm not a big fan of the carry-over point system either. As you say, each offense should be judged in isolation. I think the refs sent him off because of his reputation. Good point re: Richie Fa'aoso - i hadn't even thought of that!!
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
Yep, lots more sending offs and sin-binnings in the weeks to follow. Just like all the penalties for contacting the kicker and the 8-point tries the other year.
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
I but agree that half the time the onfield refs just make it up, but the five weeks is decided by the judiciary isn't it?
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Im a Roosters Fan and the more you see that tackle the worse it looks, Im ok with the send of as long as they stay consistent. 5 weeks is a bit harsh regardless of the carry over points. I wish theyd scrap that system and judge each offence on its own. All the current system does is hurt the game by denying it of the best players as often as possible. Also, if the refs had done thier job and set Faoso of after the first spear tackle we would only have to wait 4 weeks to see him playing again. Surely its best for each team to have thier best team on the field as much as possible for the game to be at its best week in week out.
mushi
Roar Guru
It only really screams of inconsistency if they change back straight away. You have to have the ability to change something you feel you are doing wrong don’t you?
Dr NRL
Guest
Referee form slump? How would you be able to tell? Ps. Guessing there will be 17 send offs next week ...
Andy
Guest
Refs are just making rules as they go. 5 weeks for a high shot. Blake ferguson gets a shoulder charge to the face, fractured cheek bone and there was no case to answer?
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
There's no way he ever meant to seriously hurt George. They're pretty good mates off the field, so I'm guessing he just wanted to put a good shot on him. We can't start sending people off for what we thought was going on in his head.
oikee
Guest
Ripper, he got 5 weeks. Good news, that means Watmough and Matai will be gone next game against the storm, Monday night infact. They had better send them off or we can write directly to the commission and get Hargreaves vindicated. Matai is gone, gone for all money. He has already said he will be doing the same again, not changing his highshot ways. Best news i have heard all year, throw the book at him, 10 weeks, and give Toovey a 20 thousand fine. hehe.
josh
Roar Rookie
There have been worse not sent off. but if this is the new standard for a send off or sin bin, then like the Roosters have complained, the refs need to be consistent and call every hit that makes contact with the head the same.
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
Good point, re: admitting mistakes and adapting, but I hope that's what they're actually doing, not just having a nightmare week after week. I haven't been looking real hard, but haven't heard Anderson or anyone else say that's why JWH was sent off. The only thing with referees adapting is that they tend to overreact sometimes - remember when there was a spate of 8-point tries after that Origin series a couple of years ago?