Gold Coast coach Neil Henry has blasted the referees after his side were dumped from the NRL finals in a controversial 44-28 loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Henry was treading a fine line not to call into question the credibility of referees Gerard Sutton and Gavin Badger and the bunker, however said he was owed an explanation after several calls went against his side on Friday night.
After seeing his side eliminated in front of 43,170 after a season in which they punched far above their weight, Henry said referees boss Tony Archer and his men should be called to account for what he saw as game-changing calls.
In particular he was angered by a decision to penalise David Mead for taking out the legs of Corey Oates as they contested a bomb.
He also questioned why Broncos centre James Roberts wasn’t penalised for kicking Ryan Simpkins in the play-the-ball.
Both incidents occurred in the lead up to Broncos tries and he called on the media to criticise the officials.
“I understand Tony Archer took some time out at halftime to explain to Darren Lockyer a penalty try situation but I hope he takes some time out to explain to me a couple of decisions out there,” Henry said.
“You talk about referees being protected species but I’ve got a huge question on David Mead going for the ball and getting a penalty, which was ultimately a momentum change and they went up the other end and scored a try.
“And I’ve got another one where a player kicks a defender in the back, he has two goes at him and they don’t do anything about it.”
The Broncos will advance to meet the loser of Saturday’s qualifying final between North Queensland and Melbourne, however the game could have turned out very differently if it wasn’t for a couple of controversial interventions from the bunker in the first half.
First, Jordan Kahu was awarded a penalty try after Konrad Hurrell kicked the ball from his grasp, a decision roundly panned by commentators but defended by Archer.
And when the video referee overturned a Kahu knock-on and awarded the Broncos the scrum feed, Brisbane ran up field and scored through Kahu on the back of an Anthony Milford break.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett praised the bunker for their decision to award a penalty try, calling it a gutsy decision.
“I’m just pleased they had the courage to do it because the rule is you can’t kick at the ball,” Bennett said.
“He was obviously going to score the try, he was over the line and it was all in place for that. If it happened to us I’d have to live with it.”
As they have been all year, the Gold Coast were brave to stay in the contest as long as they did after losing halfback Ash Taylor in the first half to a groin injury as well as having Zeb Taia scratched after suffering a quad injury in the warm up.
They also spent most of the second 40 with just two men on the bench after Simpkins went up the tunnel, however he later returned.
In the end the Broncos were the more classy side and deserved the win. While Henry conceded they didn’t do enough to deserve the victory, he was left with a sour taste in his mouth.
“Those two back-to-back (calls) were 12 points and at a crucial point of the game,” Henry said.
“As this team has done all year they’ve hung in and I’m flabbergasted by that.
“No doubt I’ll get some feedback but it’s no consequence to my men in there. They are upset about those decisions in particular.”
Mon
Guest
Both games had two skill-ladend finals squads in (relatively new) rivalry matches but one was ruined by incompetent officiating. At least you would hope it's merely incompetence. Not apples and oranges at all.
Kevin
Guest
I agree with the comment someone made about the tackle that took Ash Taylor out of the game. I can't believe there hasn't been more said about that. A NO ARMS tackle in the air of player who has already kicked the ball. I thought that was a straight out penalty in NRL. Would have been yellow or red card in rugby.
Norad
Guest
GO back to one referee, 2 ingoal touchies & no video. The replays of old games on Fox proves they got 99.9% decisions correct.
Bigj
Guest
Apples and oranges but yes great game for the cats through I'm tipping another cats storm double.
Swanny
Guest
Hawks cats game was brilliant compared to this game
Rob
Guest
Watching the replay they were never really given a chance. The kick from Roberts has to be a penalty not a try next play. Penalty Try in final? If you get a overrule 50/50 knock from the Bunker then award a possible obstruction try without review. As a fan the game was on the nose.
Bigj
Guest
Baz that is bs if those calls went the Titans way the would if had a twelve point lead and would of have the roll on a got the donkeys and won by 10. The were robbed and if ever there was a game being accused of match fixing there's your case. Go the storm for tonight
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahahaha...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed. The Titans were dudded but not robbed if you know what I mean. The Broncs were the better team and deserved to win. The Titans defence and error rate were terrible and the Broncs upped the intensity pretty well every time they were pushed. But the refine was terrible. I've never seen such a weight of 50/50s go against one team. Plus a couple of howlers. Plus the inconsistency in process. The Broncos were better but the Titans werent robbed in terms of the result but were dudded out of the opportunity to compete. I don't think they would have been good enough but the problem is we'll never know.
beachart
Roar Rookie
+1
Mike from tari
Guest
Have the referees & the bunker forgotten that when tackling a kicker in the air the tacklers arms must wrap around the kicker, Taylor was illegally taken out of the game & nobody not even our expert commentators knew this rule not to mention the bunker & referees or the Titans coach.
Dingo McNumbat
Roar Rookie
Is there a kickstarter going for Neil's fine yet? I will gladly chip a tenner.
Matth
Guest
Yeah no. A team that basically never defended their line for a set of 6 the whole night are not robbed
The spectator
Guest
I feel for titans fans, we're reffed out of the game cause they weren't favourites, it's a trend that's shown up over the last 5 yrs, ref's ref with the betting line, not saying it's a conspiracy just sub conciousness thing, favourite will get rub of green and it's so wrong on so many lvls.
MAX
Guest
The dedicated Sutton family have refereeing in their genes and a cure is yet to be found.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I think it is a stretch to say this was match fixing. This is simply a referee who is way out of his depth and shit at his job. He needs to go back to refereeing under 12's and start again.
Vivalasvegan
Guest
Spot on Max. Me too. The game is in trouble. The refs are doing their best but it is not nearly good enough. Just too much grey, too many opinions, too much pressure from the players, not enough sense, refs not clear on rules, rules are too detailed and need simplifying. Before video, bunker, two refs, weekly rule changes, responding to one-off events, we talked about the footy, the skill, the toughness. The odd call got up your nose but the game was the focus. I genuinely don't know what they will come up with now when a try is scored. Home reffing is worse that it used to be too. What do the touchies do?
pratley
Guest
Horrible whereas Sutton usually provides close entertaining games. I'm sure he will get further gigs though.
beachart
Roar Rookie
Could not agree more, Neil Henry had every right to go off at the performance of the referee's, last night. If that is any indication of the level of officiating, for the rest of the Finals Series, please leave me OUT. Disgraceful.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Any time you get Sutton, you know it's going to be an awfully refereed game, but that was one of the worst efforts I can recall. It's either a constant stream of bad calls or nothing to stamp out the ugly niggle going on.