Canterbury are set to be slapped with a fine of up to $50,000 for their late arrival at Sunday’s NRL grand final against South Sydney.
In a classic Des Hasler tactic, the Bulldogs coach held his players back five minutes from running out onto the ANZ Stadium turf on Sunday.
The Bulldogs players could be seen on the stadium big screen still preparing in their changeroom, minutes after the Rabbitohs had taken the field.
So long was the wait that Souths began another warm-up, running through a number of ball handling drills as they waited for Canterbury.
Chief executive Raelene Castle reportedly gave the NRL a statement in writing that the Bulldogs would follow the Rabbitohs immediately onto the field.
But that didn’t happen.
The tactic didn’t upset the Rabbitohs though who raced away to a 30-6 win to claim their first premiership since 1971.
Jordan
Guest
Lol'd pretty hard when that happened was sitting on a friends couch and we all said the exact same thing.
Knightblues
Guest
what a joke, its all part of the theater of grand finals, who cares if they come out 5 mins later, it shows how important this game is
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's great sportsmanship WW. No wonder they were called the pride of the league...
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Haha. Yes. And send the parts to his family in a box
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
This first happened in 1909. Balmain were 90 minutes late, Souths kicked off, scored a try and were awarded the premiership.
Boomshanka
Guest
Exactly - $50k is excessive when one considers the delays introduced by Nine every single televised game. Are the NRL going to fine their media partner for that? 2 hour each Friday night (120minutes x 10k per minute = $1.2M) plus the Sunday delayed match (60 minutes x 10k per minute = 600k). That's $1.8M each week for 26 rounds or a cool $46.8M just for being late. As for coverage in standard definition, crap commentary, for zero promotion of the game outside of NSW and QLD I'd fine them at least $10M. Cutting off the Grand Final presentation to Adelaide and Perth another $5M Add in 3 x State of Origin delays and that's the TV rights coverage blown.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Something must be done to stop this scourge on the game. For every minute the coach loses a finger starting with his left pinkie. Then we take his toes. There's no way anyone will be 21 minutes late.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's the irony in all this squidy. Every Friday night games start late so 9 can squeeze another set of ads in. Who cares about 5 mins? It added to the theatre and the drama.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha... Giving Ennis one last go in the hyperbaric chamber.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yes I am kidding mate...well done
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Do they fine channel 9 when they make the game 18mins later than scheduled to be?
Johnno
Guest
Jay h A few facts on Gus -Gus played 104 1st grade game for (4 different clubs, Penrith,Newtown,Dogs,Souths, before retiring in 1986) -He played 40 games for the dogs in 1st grade,23 for souths -His 1st NRL title was in 1988 as head coach of the dogs, aged only 30 youngest ever head coach to win a title -Gus has links to both clubs,I think he was just happy Souths broke there drought, not biased. He admired the dogs alot, kept on harping on about there grit, and old dogs roll your sleeves up attitude.
Jay h
Guest
One thing Souths do not have is a leagues club !! Lol
Jay h
Guest
One thing Souths do not have is a leagues club !! Lol
Jay h
Guest
What about how before bulldogs came on kept on playing the glory glory song over and over again , then got the Souths legends ring the bell !!! Phil Gould was very one eyed towards Souths
Tim Coghlan
Roar Rookie
Some rather amusing quips and obvious bias trolling here. As for the fine??? $50 K per five minutes huh??? .....hhhmmmmmmmmm...... that's a grand total of $2.65 million that the NRL should be fined by the clubs on behalf of the fans for the game starting 4 hours and 25 minutes late.
HarryT
Guest
They were waiting for Curtley Beale to arrive from Argentina.
NQ Cowboy
Guest
Accidentally Barry? You're kidding. Teams have been pulling this stunt in big matches for too long and it's about time they were penalised. Didn't the Blues do the same things in SOO this year?
Ian
Guest
Should just start on time and if one team is not ready, tough. Souths get to run in an unopposed try or two. It will never happen again if that was done.
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
Simple solution. If your more than a minute late your Captain starts the game with 10 in the Sin Bin. All sorted. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.