Instead of talking about a tremendous contest between two of the most exciting teams in the competition, we are discussing hooliganism following the behaviour of a minority of Canterbury Bulldogs fans at Friday Night’s game.
For those of you who missed the game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs, it was a game filled with controversy.
The controversy started in the 39th minute when Sam Kasiano, attempting to prevent Issac Luke from scoring a try, kneed Luke in the face, leading to an eight-point try being awarded.
This was only a teaser for what was to come.
With less than a minute and a half remaining, Bulldogs captain James Graham was put on report for taking out Souths halfback Adam Reynolds in his attempt at a field goal. This led to a penalty right in front for Souths, which pushed them across the line in a very tight game.
There is debate whether the correct decision was made by the officials. To be honest, I don’t care, because what happened next made my jaw drop.
Following the game, a small number of Bulldogs fans began throwing bottles at the match officials, leading to one official being taken to hospital with a suspected broken shoulder. The match officials were hurried off the field very quickly before anyone else was hurt.
The behaviour of the minority has not only tarnished the reputation of Canterbury Bulldogs but has tarnished our game’s image.
It is simply unacceptable.
Sometimes things go your way and at other times they do not, particularly when it comes to refereeing. Mistakes are made. This is simply part of the game.
Yet the way David Klemmer spoke to the officials following Graham’s penalty was unacceptable, and he absolutely should have been sent off. And the way some fans reacted was disgusting.
I feel sorry for the Bulldogs. They have worked extremely hard in rebranding themselves as a family club. Led by Raelene Castle and a series of exemplary players, the Bulldogs have become a team which I have come to respect on and off the field.
For the club to have to apologise for the acts of a few hooligans is extremely disappointing. It is not the responsibility of Des Hasler or Raelene Castle to have to apologise for the behaviour of these people and it is embarrassing that this is what we will be talking about for the rest of the week.
There are also reports of fighting in the stands between Rabbitohs and Bunnies fans being investigated.
We often speak about our players and the example which we would like them to set to young fans and the community as a whole. But this needs to start with us as fans. We need to demonstrate decent behaviour as representatives of the game we love.
The people involved in tonight’s disgusting display should be handed bans for a significant length of time – it needs to be clearly signalled that this sort of behaviour is not going to be tolerated.
Lee
Guest
Forget not that 500,000 of those on the Gold Coast are retired Vics....Thy're probably at AFL :-)
American Dave
Guest
By that logic JayC Souths need to accept their role in normalising domestic violence.
American Dave
Guest
Mike straw man arguements never advance a discussion. As you so correctly point out I am not a referee. I am not a plumber or pilot, yet for some strange reason I also expect these individuals to do their jobs correctly.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'd hate to see it if you were trying to be personal. May I suggest that you check your own spelling, "puntuation" and capitalisation before you start calling other people names. Although "your comments littered with bad grammar and puntuation" is one of the funniest sentences I've read in a long time.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Stolzy
Guest
Hear Hear
Stolzy
Guest
Sorry Mate but that call was right....people need to learn the rules
Stolzy
Guest
Hey G...that is the definition of reckless....without care for the intent of the kicker James Graham dived at the legs in the wet slippery ground.....it was the definition of reckless
Stolzy
Guest
The question will become Mary as to wether the bulldogs heirachy such as Raelene Castle and Des Hasler are just all talk...Dave Klemmer, Josh Renyolds, Josh Morris and James Graham should be fined...it should be imposed by the bulldogs.... take out the controversial penalty at the end of the game, the way James Graham spoke to the ref when he was bleeding...was absolutely out of line.....the situation at the end was nothing but a disgrace...
Stolzy
Guest
Hey Steve, understand your point about intent...but unfortunetly it has to be black and white...when players dive at the legs wether they are meaning to hit the legs or not....it MUST be a penalty...renyolds is out for 5 months....Scott Prince broke his leg and was out for the better part of 2 years....it is the same with a high shot...if you hit someone in the head wether it was acidental or with intent..it is a penalty...100% of the time...no ifs buts or anything
Freighter
Guest
It's still a penalty... This argument is trying to re write the rule book. Don't blame the refs, blame the people who wanted the rule- which was most probably your club coach!
Freighter
Guest
Yep... Exactly
William Williams
Roar Rookie
What as this to do with Queensland Fans, you can't expect fans to tollerate officials misstakes every week when its costing there team to lose, the only penalty for laying on thr ball carrier during the Cowboys v Storm game cost the storm the points
Tarzan
Guest
We was robbed ,we was robbed ,the pathetic cry of the victim ! The team not good enough to win ,the coach gets to whine and moan and deflect away front the fact that him and his team weren't good enough . Blaming the refs is such a cop out . If your good enough you win . Coaches need to get off blaming refs to cover their own pathetic inadequacy and their teams lack of ability . It's a joke . That Canterburt team lost the game because they were ill disciplined thugs. The funny thing is the refs got tit totally right last night and the bulldog fans are still whinging . How would the doggy fans be going now if they lost their halfback for 4 months to an illegal late tackle from a dumb forward diving into his legs and snapping a ligament ??? Or their hooker getting kicked in the face and kneed in the head when scoring a try knocking him out ??? Bulldogs you have nothing at all to complain about ,I would be more concerned about the length suspension that should be coming to Graham,Klemmer and Morris .
SpongeBob
Guest
Perhaps they should pick a captain that isn't a total toss then
Freighter
Guest
I agree... If the doggies players didn't react like that, there is less like good of crowd unrest... Doesn't excuse the behaviour of the crowd, but doesn't help
Freighter
Guest
The ruling was correct.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Jay C, I have been astounded by the reaction's in the online world today about the incident - people suggesting that it was the referee's fault. Unbelievable. There is absolutely no excuse for what happened last night.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Great comment!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Kate, completely agree with that. However, as a club, I feel like the Bulldogs have worked very hard on their image in the last couple of years. To have it tarnished again by stupidity is disappointing to me - particularly when the majority of the people involved with the Club conduct themselves with aplomb.