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Everywhere you go this week, NRL punters want to chuck in their two cents about the Storm versus Dragons siren shenanigans. However, few have asked the real question that needs to be asked.
That is, how did all this actually happen?
After all, referees’ boss Tony Archer’s explanation that Matt Cecchin reacted half a second too late after eighty minutes of sustained physical exertion is frankly unbelievable – as unbelievable as the Sharks trying to sign Benji Marshall.
If you ask me there has to be another reason for the whole shemozzle and the NRL are yet again simply playing us fans for a bunch of fools.
After doing my own research over the last few days, I’ve pinpointed some far more likely causes for the whole drama.
AAMI park’s wrong-sounding siren
Anyone who has grown up following rugby league knows what a rugby league siren sounds like.
That is, “AWRRRRRHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee!”
However perhaps in an attempt to fit in with its chic Melbourne surroundings, the flashy AAMI park has gone for an AFL inspired “BOOOOOOOOOORRRRR!”
Now, while working his way through the rugby league ranks, which one do you think Cecchin would have heard more of? Exactly.
I’m 100 per cent confident that without this auditory aberration all we’d be talking about after Monday night’s game is how Josh Dugan shouldn’t be allowed within 10 kilometres of the NSW side.
The phantom siren
Does anyone remember that hilarious bloke who used to imitate a siren in the dying moments of NRL matches in an attempt to confuse the match officials and players?
Oh, and what team did he used to support? Now let me think…
Yeah, funny isn’t it.
With this sort of evidence can anyone blame Cecchin for hesitating for half a second, knowing full well that said bloke could well be sitting on the sidelines letting one rip?
Sirengate to lift a gate
The Dragons go up against the Warriors at Kogarah in Round 7, a match probably best summed up by New Zealand coach Andrew McFadden dropping the most exciting centre in the competition for “failing to meet key defensive efficiency KPIs”.
Yep, the clash has middle-manager, occupational-health-and-safety fire-warden training written all over it – or at least it did, before Monday night.
Now all of a sudden the Dragons fans are ready to set fire to the Sizzler across from the stadium, they’re that mad, and the Kevin Campion Cup has gone from Saturday night snoozer to a must-attend for anyone who loves a bit of the Red V.
The refs wanted to see what would happen
Let’s be honest here, didn’t we all want to see what the Storm were going to pull out on that last play? A Cooper Cronk village-burner, a Cam Smith special, a Ben Roberts field goal to lose by one – we all knew something special was likely to occur.
Sure it may not be strictly professional as such, but by just giving Melbourne one final throw of the dice Matt Cecchin was really showing how much passion he has for the game.
I mean, if the match had ended with a boring tackle we would have been denied one of the great Youtube gems for decades to come. Surely that would be far worse than some team whose fans want a new coach anyway missing out on a measly two competition points.
A bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange
Could it not be a case of white with chicken… and a red with Cecchin?
Or is it just Dragons fans having a w(h)ine?
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