As the fallout from the 60 Minutes interview with Alex McKinnon continues, I was left scratching my head about how we ever let Cameron Smith get in such hot water post-tackle.
As we were shown over and over again, the culprits in the injury to McKinnon were Melbourne Storm prop forward Jordan McLean and the Bromwich brothers, who contributed through their hold of the upper body.
Smith played no part in it, yet it was what he said afterwards that has gained so much attention.
The tackle became ugly and the referees were very quick to identify the problem.
“Lifting – he’s put him in a dangerous spot here,” was the first communication to come through the referees’ on-field microphones.
It very soon escalated as Knights and Storm players came together with McKinnon lying helpless on the turf.
“Cameron, take them back for us please mate,” said referee Gerard Sutton to Storm captain Smith.
You can judge for yourself what you think of what was being said on the field.
“Beau! Willie, you’re not in trouble yet, but you will be…” Willie Mason made a pest of himself in front of Smith’s face, before the focus again turned to the injured player.
“Cameron, let this happen first, mate – go away.”
Sutton was trying to clear the opposing sides from the area where McKinnon was being treated ever more carefully by up to eight medical staff. At this stage everybody was concerned with the injured player’s condition, particularly as he cried out that he couldn’t feel his legs over and over.
However, nobody thought there were going to be lifelong implications for the young Knights player. Everyone – teammates, opposing players, commentators and match officials – all hoped what was being done (neck brace, stretcher) was precautionary.
What it did was allow several minutes of vacant television broadcast time. Fox Sports showed some replays of the tackle before focussing on shots of the Newcastle bench, coach Wayne Bennett and Peter Mulholland in the coach’s box, and the stunned looks on the Storm players’ faces, Smith and McLean in particular.
Of course the video referees had vision of the tackle as well and were able to advise the on-field referees on their next course of action. They confirmed what the men with the whistles already knew, that McLean did the lifting and he would be the player placed on report.
In general NRL referees allow players – especially captains – to say too much on the football field. It’s a product of the more vocal sections of some NRL clubs and to a lesser extent the rugby league media; the misplaced idea that referees don’t show enough ‘respect’ to captains. It started a few years ago with the usual suspects – people like Des Hasler, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Farah.
Of course it’s all rubbish; players respect the referees and this is reciprocated. Yet the NRL and its referees have reacted to the sentiment. In order to avoid the ‘disrespect’ label, we now see lengthy addresses towards the referee while we all wait impatiently for the man with the whistle to tell the captain to stop talking and get on with the game.
This is where things started to get tangled for Cameron Smith.
There was silence for over five minutes while McKinnon was stabilised and then stretchered off AAMI Park. Ryan Hoffman approached Smith with something to say and I am not surprised he felt an obligation to his team to show some leadership on their behalf.
Once play was set to resume, Smith approached referee Gerard Sutton again to plead his case, presumably to protect McLean. It’s a professional approach to the game, an area in which Smith excels.
“I understand your point,” Sutton gently said to Smith, “but he’s lifted, and it’s into a dangerous position. It’s a penalty”.
Newcastle lined up their penalty kick, while Smith kept Gerry’s attention. Ever the diplomat, Gerard Sutton is the most mild-mannered referee in the game. Off the park you won’t meet a more pleasant, likeable person. On the park it’s both his strength and his weakness.
“Here’s the thing,” said Smith. “We’ve had two lifted tackles against us, where our boys were put in more dangerous positions that that – we can’t help that he ducked his head into the ground. It’s unfortunate and I don’t want to see that happen at any time in our game, but if he doesn’t duck his head, then that doesn’t happen. How can you penalise that?”
The referee tries to respond, when Smith interjects with, “So you’re telling me anyone who ducks their head into the ground from now on, it’s a penalty?”
The exchange lasted almost 40 seconds, and it should not have even lasted one tenth of that time. It took four seconds for Smith to say, “here’s the thing, we’ve had two lifted tackles against us…” which is where he should have been cut off, with Sutton saying, in a voice firmer and slightly louder than his usual caution, “Cameron – we have a player on a stretcher, it’s a penalty and on report.”
End of discussion. Shut the guy up before he runs off at the mouth, which in hindsight was a very poor look for the man and the game. Whether he knew it or not at the time, a player had suffered a broken neck and we had an opposing captain wanting to argue over whether a penalty was warranted.
Which is where some responsibility lies with the referees. Sure, if something needs explaining have a chat about it. If it’s a clear-cut penalty, let the whistle and the signal do the talking.
The irony is that in Smith getting ‘respect’ by saying what he wanted after the incident, he has in fact come out of it with much less respect.
Gerard Sutton will be the senior referee in Wednesday’s State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium. At some stage during the game Cameron Smith will, in his capacity as Queensland captain, confront Gerry.
The question is, will Smith be given enough rope to tie himself up in knots again? Or will Gerry simply say, “Forget it Cameron – there’s nothing to say.”
For the good of the game I like to think the latter. It’s far better to give the decision, get on with the game, and protect the players from looking foolish.
But I know that won’t be the case: rugby league isn’t respectful enough to trust the referee to do his job.
Rob G
Guest
Absolute grub. I've never seen a player elbow/punch/gouge people in the face after a tackle as much as smith does. This just highlights his grubbiness. How can you blame the ref for him being an insensitive tw@
Freighter
Guest
Pretty hard to argue what you did or did not see...
steveng
Roar Rookie
The 'sin bin' 'Far north rugby fan' will never be used, it hasn't been used since and won't be used. There have been hundreds of incidences (since) and the sin bin ot the send off was not used. I don't know but the NRL and the referees are somehow ignoring (on purpose) the sin bin and the send off! Why? I don't know, its in the rule book but its very very very rarely used.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Not a single ad I saw mentioned the Smith angle specifically...
Freighter
Guest
I was in NSW all week and from what I saw from adverts, that is the angle I got from the story.... They know full well what they were doing and why people would watch.
Dan Eastwood
Expert
Graham my broader point was the way referees tolerate whatever is being said to them by captains because that is what is expected of them these days. I cannot imagine Bill Harrigan ever allowing a player to say as much as Cameron Smith did on that night. However, we are in this position because in the past we have had referees put captains in their place and coaches, players and commentators have accused the referees of not showing the players enough respect. The NRL has not shown enough support and the game seems happy to accept what we have now.
Dan Eastwood
Expert
Max, those 50/50 discretionary penalties you talk about need to be awarded to facilitate a game of rugby league. If the referees didn't penalise lying on the tackled player, hand on ball, crowding the ball carrier when he's trying to play it - which are all discretionary - we'd never have a game. They will get them wrong from time to time, like Gavin Badger penalising Marty Taupau on Monday, but they will always be there. I hope the 10m is enforced tonight as well, which is the responsibility of the touch judges these days.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Exactly right. It's not 'blaming' McKinnon for the tackle. He had a split second to react and what he did in that split second played a part in determining the outcome. The point is that he shouldn't have been in that position where a split second reaction determines whether he ever walks again or not. In a lot of sports you are taught to tuck your head and roll when falling head first. Think a simple forward roll in gymnastics. It's also a fairly natural way to react when falling. Problem is most sports you don't have 200+ kg of front rowers holding you at the time so that may not be the best technique for league.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm not saying that Queenslanders shouldn't feel aggrieved. I've seen much smaller incidents than this leave chips in their shoulders for years :-) What I'm saying is that there's not necessarily a NSWRL link and a conspiracy theory. It's channel 9 timing the story to maximise its ratings and origin 3 interest and ratings. That is their business. Of course they're trying to increase ratings. While I don't approve of their methods I've been surprised at the outrage at channel 9 "just doing it for the ratings". I'd happily lend you money Jay - I just don't think you'd like the terms or the late payment penalties. :-) Of course I meant $30k isn't much in the context of ch9 and Gyngell and rugby league.
Ken
Guest
'I agree that McKinnon unwittingly attributed to the tackle by ducking his head' While it's not really relevant to the point of whether Smith should have continued to argue, is that a common consensus? Surely when you're put in that position, where your head is about to be driven into the ground, ducking your head and attempting to roll over it has to offer you the best chance of getting out uninjured. What other options do you have? Lift your chin and you're impacting the ground face first with your throat exposed and your neck bent the wrong way. Keep your head straight on and you take the full force down your spine, while still eating turf with your face. I didn't watch the 60 mins report, and fully expect it was the hatchet job everyone is calling it, but Smith's argument was nonsense and the decision to go on with it during and after the game was very poor.
soapit
Guest
yep good idea, turn the focus onto the other person when you get shaky in an argument. still looking forward to a clips showing exactly what ur on about as i suspect it ill be fairly simple to see the difference between most you can find and the mckinnon one. (hint how many people attending to him, is a stretcher involved? etc)
Jay C
Roar Guru
Come on The Barry. Whether it was the case or not, I think Queenslanders have some right to feel aggrieved when the network that hosts the State Of Origin comes at with a hatchet job on the QLD Captain 3 days before a decider. Especially when the boss of that network is such an ardent fan of the Blues that he personally contributes 'a small amount of money' to the Blues every year. Maybe it was all just coincidental, but honestly, I find that a longer bow to draw. The ratings would have been just as good next week. Or last week. They could have easily let Cam Smith and the Storm know what was happening. Gina Rinehart got to watch that show on her and pre approve whatever she wanted (not that I am advocating for this). I know that if I personally had the chance to disrupt the Blues preparations, I would. Also, PS, Barry, If $30,000 is a small amount can I hit you up for a loan?
Jay C
Roar Guru
Yeah, this is one of the things that intrigues me. I'm not a Dr. so I can't offer much insight into what the specific actions were that caused the event. But why are people so incensed at the thought that ducking his head may have contributed in some way? Surely the best thing we could do is have human motion specialists review the incident thoroughly so we can make sure we are training all players from a young age exactly how not to allow this situation to happen again. Surely the best outcome is for this to never happen again. Hopefully the NRL have done this privately as it is not a public matter, but the results should be shared right down to junior coaches.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Have you ever watched a game of footy?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I still don't see what the NSWRL has to do with any of this. The closest thing I have heard to a coherent argument is that someone who works at channel 9 has donated a small amount of money to the NSWRL. By my book that would only possibly give the person working at 9 a small amount of leverage with NSWRL, not the other way around.
wardad
Guest
What you see is a man displaying what a grubby little boy he is arguing over something he damn well knows is wrong and never going to be changed [ the penalty] And then blaming someone for an instinctive reaction when a trio of halfwits have put his life in jeapardy ? A man surrounded by medics and obviously in extremis ? Smith hasnt had time to put a better face on his actions in the minutes after tthe tackle which is why his sociopathic nature is on display .
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
Someone on another thread has called for a QLD boycott in regards QLD players talking to channel 9 , participating in promos etc , . Whereas I think QLD should go even further by boycotting anything to do with channel 9 altogether. They could start by boycotting S.O.O 3 because it is broadcast by 9 , then boycott the finals series...hell , why not boycott the whole competition because 90% is broadcast by 9 . They could start their own competition in QLD.....erm, no cancel that, I think they have one. It's called "The Second Rate Cup" or something allong those lines , hence all the QLD players wanting to play in what is ostensibly a NSW competition . I thought QLD'ers were supposed to be harder than that , instead of being girly teary eyed because people said mean things about Cameron Smith yet these same teary eyed girls have no problem saying the most heinous things about the NSW captain . Time to man up or shut up QLD.
Malahka
Guest
If you watch the whole footage initially it seems like noone knew that it would be devastating injury. Smith argues the point for a fair while then stops, looks at McKinon and looks worried. As in all injuries the player is carried off the field usually to the bench afterwards. Smith then argues the point more after being silent for ages as he knows that it is a guaranteed 2 points. Play continues on.
pat malone
Guest
thanks Cleatus
pat malone
Guest
that is why origin thrives, strange queenslanders who think they hold the moral high ground and NSW are the powers of evil against them. back to playing your banjo stan