Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy appears at risk of another $10,000 fine from the NRL after claiming referee Ashley Klein has a bias against his side.
Bellamy was fuming after the Storm’s last-gasp 32-30 loss to Newcastle on Saturday night.
The Knights won the penalty count 11-3, including a 7-0 advantage in the second half.
Melbourne led from the sixth minute but conceded two tries in the final two minutes before Knights skipper Kurt Gidley kicked a match-winning conversion from the sideline after the siren to win the game.
Bellamy blasted his side’s defence but saved his greatest criticism for Klein.
“I’m really disappointed in the way the game was refereed,” he said.
“There was 7-0 penalties (against Melbourne) in the second half (and) there’s not one side worse than the other.
“Ashley Klein obviously doesn’t like the way we play our footy.
“We’ve had that many times when we’ve had him this year and the penalty count, it hasn’t even been close.
“Every time we have Ashley we always seem to be on the wrong side of the penalty count and a fair way on the wrong side.”
The Storm have walked away winners only once from six games in which Klein has been the central on-field referee this year.
Only once have they had an edge in the penalty count and that came in the 18-17 round two win over Penrith when they had an 11-10 advantage from the men in pink.
Bellamy said he’d spoken to referees boss Tony Archer about Klein’s treatment of his side before Saturday night’s loss.
The Storm coach copped a $10,000 fine, $5000 of which was suspended, for not attending a post-match press conference following the 22-19 win over Manly in round nine.
The loss to Newcastle ended a three-game winning streak for Melbourne, who could have broken into the top four with a win heading into their round 23 match on Saturday against the Sharks at AAMI Park.
Newcastle’s fullback Sione Mata’utia will have scans tomorrow on a suspected broken jaw. Storm forward Tim Glasby was put on report for a high shot on the 18-year-old Mata’utia in 43rd minute.
Champ
Guest
The Old home second half comeback and it wasn't even FTA http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/dramatic-licence-whistleblowers-in-danger-of-playing-to-script-to-ensure-theatrical-finale-20120806-23qe1.html As Masters wrote last year "Referees risk becoming choreographers, directing the course of NRL games to produce dramatic results. Canterbury's Des Hasler, who was fined for Saturday's comments, is not the only coach entitled to feel aggrieved by referees seemingly making decisions that bring the underdog back into the game." However the penalty count is too simplistic - its the 50-50 knock-on, forward pass, incorrect play the ball decisions that also change a game. One refs favourite is the impeding a player after a kick, another was a player in front of the kicker at kick off and of course the random off side call. Another when one attacking side is on top is to award a penalty and made a break is for the ref to deem holding down by the defence even when it isn't to allow the defence to cover.
T Bone
Guest
Who doesn't want Melbourne in the competition?
Marty
Guest
No one in Sydney likes the way Melbourne play footy simply because most of Sydney never wanted Melbourne in the comp and unfortunately their success has prevented them from campaigning to have them removed. Any coach would complain at a 7-0 penalty count, Dessie would have ripped the door off, Tooves would have turned purple and Sticky would have put that down as his number 1 excuse. The fact that Bellamy had complained before the match says an awful lot.
Scrubbit
Guest
I was just thinking I'm not sure many people like the way the storm play "footy".
T Bone
Guest
Craig - I don't like the way you play footy either. Without the improvisation of your elite players from time to time, you would be the most boring team in the past 20 years. Unfortunately, you have been extremely successful, so now every other coach is following your over coached, over cautious, mistake free blueprint which is making this season so uninspiring.