Call it what you may, what can’t be denied is Wade Graham lied at the coin toss before the start of golden point in the Gold Coast Titans versus Cronulla match recently in the NRL.
This potentially could have cost the Gold Coast Titans an extra set of six tackles and a possible victory.
The call of ‘heads’ by Graham was heard clearly through the referee’s microphone so if the referee had any doubt at all he should have gone to the Bunker. What was stopping the referee in the Bunker from intervening on such a crucial decision?
To make matters worse, the refusal by referees to penalise players during golden point extra time has turned it in to an absolute farce. It has given free reign to players to infringe as they please safe in the knowledge that the referees haven’t got the courage to award a penalty.
It’s rather ironic when you think about how some of the referees almost blow the pea out of the whistle during regular time, yet come golden point they may as well put the whistle in their pockets. They virtually never use it.
With no action taken by the NRL against Graham for his dishonest act, it has now opened the door for other captains to follow suit. You can just imagine the controversy if it happens again during the finals series.
Make no mistake about it, Graham’s deceitful act bought the game of rugby league in to disrepute. The refusal by the referee or the Bunker to do anything about it and take it seriously has once again tarnished the game’s integrity.
Mycall
Guest
No, you only get to choose one or the other. You can either choose to kick or you choose which way to run.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I'd say toss of the coin.OK I'll get my coat.
Pj
Guest
Wade Graham is most definately a cheat. A drug cheat, like the rest of the table topping, peptide injecting, banned for a year after the fact Sharks...
Richard Maybury
Guest
Was a time when a sportsman wouldn't dream of cheating like this. The very essence of the term sportsman but in these liberal low moral PC days then anything goes - but don't tell Wade he cheated, he might get upset.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Lockyer's full of it. There was a couple of minutes to go as if they were going to hurt them on the scoreboard. Lockyer led the charge with a massive swinging arm into Gidleys head as third man in. Great Origin moment but it is what it is. Don't rewrite history Locky...
rod pombart
Guest
No Honor No Principles No morals
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
That was Cameron Smith. Lockyer said after the game he'd said to get down there and hurt them meaning to put more points in the board. Nek minnit.
Bulldog
Guest
It is poor sportsmanship but it also poor form from the ref.... Just got to think and remember one thing.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's what I thought...80 mins of tough footy, he may not have remembered. The ref forgot and Graham didn't vigorousy defend himself.
Albo
Guest
Not sure Wade is smart enough to deliberately cheat ? I think he just forgot what he called ! Just like the referee .
Robbo
Guest
It's embarassing for the ref, but for a coin toss he'd probably trust the players, Grahams lie put enough doubt in the refs mind to think "Huh? Maybe I heard wrong?". Would've been way more embarassing to rule against Graham if Graham was telling the truth. It's also a wakeup call for the NRL, how do they deal with this next time a player lies like this. Like this: Ref "Call?" Player "Heads" (or tails) Ref touches his own head or hip to indicate heads or tails. That way it indicates physically if it's a head or tails call and he doesn't have to rely on short term memory or having the call thrown into doubt by a player. If the player still complains he called different then go to bunker.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Next week article: Did Darren Lockyer do the unsportsmanlike act of putting up a bomb for an all in brawl targeting Kurt Gidley in origin?
The eye
Guest
Winning toss captain's options "To either kick off OR choose which end of the field his team will defend " Section 8.1
Clinen
Guest
This was 2 weeks ago....
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Ahh grasshopper. If a cheating call is made in the middle of the forest and nobody is there to hear it, has it actually been made?
CALM CHEEN
Guest
If Wade Graham had been pulled up on this , it would be him being accused of having the memory of a Goldfish and the matter would have been forgotten the next day , but he was successful so its become an issue. On another note ...I thought it was quite amusing that at the coin toss for extra time last night , the ref asked James Graham " What way do you want to kick , what direction do you want to run "? To which Lyon quite objectively questioned " So what he gets to choose both "? Yes Jamie the same way the team kicking off has in every game of league you've ever played in ....A mental giant for sure.
Armchair expert
Guest
I have been thinking how wrong it was and am surprised this is the first article I've read that I agree with. We need sportsmen to play within the rules of the game. Stretch them yes.
Ben
Guest
If the refund doesn't catch you cheating, it's not really cheating.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I thought it was cheeky. If the ref can't remember a simple thing like what was called then Wade should pull a trick like this out his back pocket