NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson says he was satisfied with the decision not to sin-bin Paul Gallen in Wednesday’s State of Origin opener.
The NSW skipper was put on report and will miss Cronulla’s clash with Melbourne on Sunday after catching Nate Myles with a flurry of punches in the Blues 14-6 win at ANZ Stadium after pleading guilty to a grade two striking charge.
The incident on the stroke of halftime led to a melee between players from both sides but referee Ashley Klein opted not to give Gallen 10 minutes off the field.
Myles said he was not upset by the decision not to punish Gallen for the incident at the time and Maroons coach Mal Meninga said likewise, with NSW coach Laurie Daley calling it a great Origin moment.
However, Meninga changed his tune somewhat 12 hours later saying the Blues captain was lucky to stay on the field.
“It shouldn’t be part of Origin really, it should be a sin bin at least,” he said.
Anderson said he was pleased with the overall performances of Klein and Shayne Hayne although he conceded Gallen and Cooper Cronk were fortunate to stay on the field.
Cronk was penalised for failing to allow James Maloney to get up and play the ball after the five-eighth had a made a break for the line.
“These games are difficult to referee as there is a lot at stake for both teams,” Anderson told AAP.
“There were two possible sin-bins, one from Cooper Cronk for a professional foul on Maloney in the first half, but the adjudication was not to put him in the sin-bin.
“In regards to Paul Gallen, he was put on report, he was penalised and the match review committee have dealt with it.
“Although we don’t condone striking in any way, I am comfortable with both decisions.”
Meninga said he would be in contact with Anderson before game two and the former Parramatta coach said he would welcome the dialogue.
“I thought we had a solid performance from the refs given the need to enforce the game, they were largely invisible which is what you want,” he said.
“Nobody is really talking about them today.
“We will provide a pretty extensive valuation to Mal and Laurie on our perception on how the game was adjudicated.
“We do it for every game, for every single coach in the NRL.
“Some of them up to 50-60 lines, some are easier than others. It’s pretty transparent and covers both teams on the same piece of paper.”
Anderson is yet to make a decision who will be in charge of game two but said he didn’t expect the furore to make it harder to officiate.
“Game two will be difficult because there is a lot at stake,” he said.
“But that is always the case in Origin. Players will always be competitive and it’s up to the referees to see the game run properly.”
SandBox
Roar Guru
Agreed. Also, Anderson happy with Kennedy assassination Anderson convinsed by Bernie Madoff's reasoning. Anderson says Asbestos is healthy
Bigjohn
Guest
Anderson happy with refs, what next, Anderson overjoyed with massive paycheque , Anderson realises that he forgot to tell refs what constitutes a knock on. Anderson supports Gillard because neither of them know whats really going on.
Dribbler
Guest
And what do u think is gonna happen in the final game at Sydney genius. Payback for your payback u muppet HAHAHA!
Home town harry
Guest
Thanks Ando I was ecstatic with the refs too. Just have Klein and the touchy grow a pair and make some calls tho.
WQ
Guest
That's excellent news, QLD can get about planning a square up knowing that nobody will be sent off!
oikee
Guest
Of course he is happy. It is his job and like Harrigon will say anything to protect that job. He has backfipped let the game get out of control by allowing a player to dictate terms, like this is Origin, it is different, he twisted my leg so i am allowed to bop him. ]Nonsense, complete and utter nonsense. Anderson has not really improved anything, i made a list the other day, i will make it again. Shoulder Charge, = failed, black and white, players dont know wheather to tackle or with their shoulder or put their arm out and let them through. So failed to get rid of grey area. Obstruction rule, = failed. He changed it back from a obstruction that had everyone complaining, to a rule that is no clearer now than when Harrigon was in charge, So failed in that one a s well, grey areas everywhere. 10 minute sin-bin,= failed, he has now made the binning a grey area. He has allowed Origin to dictate to him the use of the bin, even on sports panel they are saying origin has different rules to the NRL. ??? Created a monster there now. He has made the sin-bin a grey area. The video ref, mate,, dont even get me started on going up to the backpacker. = big failure. He has allowed the refs to now send everything back up to the video refs. We had a knock-on sent up their the other day, a player obstruction after try was scored, and the video men are playing the 50/50 call, "benefit of the doubt" rule, w hich is what he was trying to eliminate. You hear the commentators even saying that it looks dodgey, it could go either way only to have the backpacker do the same, over-rule a 50/50 call, so they have not got rid of the doubt, they have just reinroduced it under a different guise. Until they inroduce the captains challenge, a rule used in a 100 billion dollar code in America, and get rid of the useless outdated Torso rule. This game wont ever be fixed, and i am Sorry, but Daniel is just wasting his time, my time and keeping the seat warm for common sense, whenever he may arrive. Who is with me? who is all for Coommon Sense, that wonderful foresight.