Yesterday’s match at McDonald Jones Stadium was one of the high points of the season so far.
As the Knights start to regain form, there’s more of a sense of desperation and urgency to their matches.
Add inconsistent refereeing into the mix and tempers are guaranteed to flare.
Late in the game, Trent Hodkinson reacted furiously to a penalty for the Bunnies, telling the referee that he’d just decided the outcome of the afternoon.
The irony was that Hodkinson’s actions decided the outcome, since he was promptly sin-binned for ten minutes, leaving Newcastle to bring home two more converted tries without him.
There’s no doubt that speaking in that manner on the field has to be penalised. But would Cameron Smith or Johnathan Thurston have copped a full ten?
It seemed even more unfair given that George Burgess had been sin-binned earlier in the game for elbowing and throwing punches at Mitch Barnett.
Sometimes fights break out organically and it’s hard to tell who’s the instigator. This wasn’t one of those cases.
Instead, Burgess lost the ball after a big tackle and lashed out.
The fact that Burgess was only sin-binned, rather than sent off for the entire match, makes Hodkinson’s punishment seem unnecessarily drastic.
Sure, remonstrating with a referee is bad form, but is it really as bad as biffing your opponent in the face just because you stuff up on the field?
If Hodkinson was sin-binned, then Burgess should have been sent off for the entire match.
Similarly, if Burgess was sin-binned, then Souths should have been given another set of six and Hodkinson allowed to remain on the field.
Finally, even if Burgess and Hodkinson’s actions are in fact equivalent then this equivalence needs to be applied consistently over the rest of the season.
While having Burgess back on again after ten minutes might have mobilised the Knights further, there’s no doubt that removing Hodkinson from the field in the final stretch swamped their chances of winning.
When a match is won or lost on sin-binning, we have a right to expect the rules are crystal clear.
From now on, then, we have a right to expect that every player who throws a one-liner at the ref is sent off for ten minutes, and that any player who throws a punch on the field is also sent off for ten minutes.
Let’s hope, too, that Hodkinson comes back with a bang next week, since he hasn’t been so downright entertaining for a long time.
The Barry
Roar Guru
How was his blowup compared to Hodkinson's? Was what JT said on par?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
JT got binned a couple of years ago TB for dissent. I remember him getting warned and he didnt stop so he got binned.
Craig
Guest
Perhaps a little rough but you can't blame the ref for losing you the game. Nor can you tell him he's done so. Very disrespectful. There's no point arguing about "burgess was worse". Running a player illegally of a line is a minor offence, but potentially a professional foul. Burgess deserved the bin (send off a complete over-reaction), and so did Hodkinson. The worse decisions were, allowing the scrum to be won against the feed (what Hodkinson was complaining about) - how on earth in this day and age can that happen - 99% of the time If its close to happening the ref either blows a penalty or re-sets the scrum. The penalty after Hodkinson got binned (I can't recall the player - but it was for pinning/twisting a shoulder), was an even worse call. There was no malice or intent and the tackle just just kind of a tangle. Terrible decision.
Bowie
Guest
I remember when my mom gave me a smack and how it hurt my feelings therefore I agree Burgess and refs reactions were justified
Worlds Biggest
Guest
In the context of both binnings, Burgess should of been sent off, that was dirty play at its best and I'm a Bunnies fan. I don't mind back chat getting binned as long as it's consistently applied.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
The official interpretation of the rules regarding send offs and sin bins from "2017 NRL Laws and Interpretations" - Those interested should google: "2017 NRL Laws and Interpretations" and follow the link to "2016 NRL Laws and Interpretations" (which is the same thing).
steveng
Roar Rookie
Hopefully it will and its not a 'one off'!!! The NRL needs strict discipline in language anyway. There is too much of the 'F' word being televised to our youngsters and fans that watch the game. And JT is a very guilty component of that.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
In regards to Hodkinson’s remark... Anyone who has played the game I am sure could not help but smile in sympathy and in solidarity with Hodkinson over his comment born out of frustration, "you just decided the game!". We have ALL been there! But he backed the ref into the corner and gave him no choice. Perhaps this is yet another argument for the "captains/coaches challenge". That controversial incidents can be examined using video evidence to determine if there is merit in a complaint. At the end of the day there is still the potential for a difference of interpretation. Taking the fact that Souths benefited from the disputed interpretation (Souths winning the scrum against the feed for "allegedly" while having their legs across the tunnel before the the scrum was fed), wasn't it a breath of fresh air and a throw back to bygone days to see a scrum one against the feed WITHOUT the scrum being driven off the mark!
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
"One rule for Smith, another for everyone else!!!!!!!!" True! Also the same applies for Thurston. Really dumb and very disappointing from George. No one wants to talk about the cheap shot uppercut (PUNCH) by Mitch Barnett in the tackle that started this but that is no excuse or defence for Burgess who stepped a LONG way over the line. George was having a bad day and was clearly being heckled by the Knights and snapped. Every time I have looked at the footage (wearing my biased South Sydney cardinal and myrtle glasses) I try to believe that George swung and missed. The "punches" he threw following that only seemed to confirm the fact that he CAN'T fight and probably (because of his size) has been challenged very few times in his life. In truth though, the more I see the footage the more it appears to be intentional and IF that is the case then it IS "a gutless act" and deserving of a send off! The problem with going down this road is that it practically decides the result of the match from that point on. It also sets a precedent and puts pressure on referees and the NRL to be consistent. Tripping is also a send off offence yet Cameron Munster was not even sin binned for this against the Dogs on Friday night. There have been numerous examples of this over the years (most notably with Josh Reynolds) which have NEVER resulted in send offs. It's all well and good to cry "SEND HIM OFF" but there MUST be consistency. If Burgess had been sent off for this offence then referees would be under the microscope for the rest of the season to apply the same interpretation of the send off rule to other teams irrespective of the circumstances (like Dale Finucane intentionally handling the ball in the ruck right in front of the referee in the 2014 GF but was NOT sin binned because it was a Grand Final!) (See interpretation of the rules below)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Smith rarely or ever says anything to the refs that questions their integrity. I think that's what people misunderstand about Smith. Yes he talks to the refs a lot but 99% of the time it's respectful. JT gets caught up in the heat of the moment more often and has pushed the envelope (and more) many times. I can't recall him getting binned so I come back to the fact that binning Hodkinson was inconsistent. I also think "you cost us the game" is mildly disrespectful but certainly not questioning the refs integrity. I don't think it's sin bin worthy because we wouldn't have seen it sin binned last week and we will see worse not get binned next week. Marching him 10 and no bin would have been appropriate. Sin bin for that was an over reaction. Having said that if this is part of a new crackdown and anything like that will be binned consistently I'll definitely support it. I think we all know that's not going to happen though.
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
If Smith had of said that, the ref wold have reversed the decision; he would then have asked Smith who he would like to send to the sin bin from the opposition team. The ref would then have apologised to Smith for wasting his time. One rule for Smith, another for everyone else!!!!!!!!
steveng
Roar Rookie
'The Barry', how long and often do you want the refs to put up with this 'telling Hokko to pull his head in was a better response in the context of the game' or march them 10m? But as 'Billy Stevens' said 'so long as that’s applied consistently'. But there must have been lots of warnings before Hokko got his marching orders, he was lucky that he didn't get sent off. But this this the problem with NRL refereeing, they haven't applied disciplinary actions e.g. sin binning and sending off of players for donkeys years, this has nurtured the language and backchat to refereeing decisions of today. Can you imagine if JT, CS would be sin binned and/or sent off in any game for back chatting? Can you imagine the uproar that it would cause if the refs action would contribute to their sides losing. The referees have to set a standard of discipline and language that is acceptable and anything else should be penalised, sin binned or sent off appropriately, that is the only answer and solution to this problem!!!
Jim
Guest
They were marched an extra ten numerous times during the match. I'd say there was a lot of back chat from the knights, they were warned and chose to ignore the warning. Saying burgess lashed out unprovoked is silly. The knights prop had his hands in his face before hand and can be seen giving burgess a smack
Jeff Davis
Guest
It's only a 'smash in the head' because George ducks his head to chest level just before contact with the defense. He regularly does it and if you're going to use your head as a weapon like that you have to expect 'high' contact. I agree the attacking the legs penalty was harsh though. Pretty much when you're pressuring the kicker now you have to make a chest tackle or you get done for it.
steveng
Roar Rookie
This is the unfortunate thing that referees have tried to avoid and have been terrified of (especially from the big teams NQL, Broncos, Storm etc) that they will be accused of like Trent Hodkinson did ‘telling the referee that he’d just decided the outcome of the afternoon’. The sin binning of Burgess was spot on (and being a Bunnies supporter, he should get the full wack of the judiciary) and in Hodkinson case it should have been a send-off. It’s about time that the refs bit the bullet and took no nonsense from players, these players are getting out of control and the refereeing is going down that path also. If the Knights want to blame Hodkinson's sin bin on their loss then what about the Bunnies sin binning of Burgess when they scored their only points? The Bunnies and the Knights were undisciplined and made allot of mistakes, the Bunnies should have won this game by 20+ (if they had the discipline and didn't drop so much ball) especially when Reynolds was in front of the post, it was 22-12, 5 meters out with a penalty and the Bunnies went for the 2 pointer with the Knights having 12 men. The refereeing had nothing to do with it.
Chris Morrison
Guest
I think maybe Hodkinson would of only been marched 10 if it was the first time in the game. However, after Souths were awarded their first penalty of the game the referee matched them 10 for dissent. Maybe it was Hodkinson again?? As for George, definitely deserved a sin bin. Striking equals ten in the bin these days. I find it funny though that the "big shot" the author refers to was a smash in the head and was ignored. George doesn't hit him if he isn't hit first. What should of happened was the referee blow a penalty immediately for the high shot and then nothing would of happened. Also, to make comment on inconsistency in the rulings.... what about Zane Musgrove being penalised for pressuring the kicker? Looked exactly the same as Adam Blairs attempts on every kicker. I though as long as the player wrapped his arms and made a tackle it was fair play? Instead Lamb gets up pushing Musgrove in the face and gets a penalty for it where the ball lands.
kk
Roar Pro
I object to any referee sending my favourite player from the field. Mr. Munro should apologise to Trent Hodkinson and promise he will never do it again.
jacksyd
Guest
Wrong for George to react that way but no mention of the swinging forearm to his head in the tackle which he reacted to.
Silvertail47
Guest
Shhhhhh Bowie , Grasshopper will bin you for that statement,didn't Gal have a go at the refs in a game earlier this year ? I'm sure he did , he punches harder than little ole Hodgkinson
The Barry
Roar Guru
Re Burgess. It was but we're playing footy. I can live with a boof head over reacting and just getting 10 in the bin. Send off would have seemed a massive over reaction from the refs.