NRL refs boss admits errors in Souths loss

RL is like soccer now where a refs decision alters the outcome of the game because the games are so close - the strip the ball rule is the greatest farce foisted on the game and no RL supporter can tell me the difference between stripped and lost ball. Its a lottery.

They have some funny interpretation's. When in attack and its on the line its a try. But when coming out of defence and your on the line your not deemed to be in the field of play. The other one which is rarely policed was when mbye was penalised as he was in off side position in ruck.

Do you think he would have awarded try if the Broncos were in front instead of behind in the last 10 mins. Its Friday night free to air just like another cliffhanger at FTA TV 4PM today. Its WWe

Exactly, TB, this was, and is, contentious. It is not as clearcut as many are saying. I just looked at it again - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xjuX4OMgDnw and it is not clear his arm carrying the ball DID hit the turf. It would only be the back of his hand, but if he was held up...? I think this is what the bunker was saying.

No mate, I don't agree with your reasoning at all, souths don't win by default because a decision went against them. If it was ruled as no try the broncos would have the ball back in the attacking ten. You're acting as if the broncos were woefull and the only thing keeping them in the game was the refs when in reality the broncos had made it over souths try line twice in the space of five minutes and I really can't understand how you can possibly believe that souths errors had no impact on the scoreline, not even the two shockers that lead directly to points. The facts are that even if that decision was the worst ever it did not put the broncos in front, souths had ten minutes to put the result beyond doubt and couldn't. If souths supposedly were the deserved winners that were robbed surely they could have found that single point to put them in front, they were even gifted a penalty to get them out of their own half and couldn't convert that into points. Regarding Maguire, not consistantly complaining about the refs does not automatically make him right when he does. Nothing against the guy, but i'm not going to take the word of any coach as the be-all and end-all. Anyways, nothing you have said so far has made me rethink my views what so ever and i'm quite certain that nothing i have said has changed your mind either, no matter how strongly we both may feel. Have a good one mate and see you in round 14

My brother in law also a doggies supporter. We both went to the 2014 GF so I am still living on that glory even though you guys have got us 2 out of the last three. Didn't watch the tigers dogs and was shocked to see the tigers win. Can't get a handle on them. Took the doggies in my tipping. It will be all on again next week for both teams (except George burgess who will have a rest for 4 and maybe a couple with norths until he get his head together.

Yeah mate - happy to be challenged. I've enjoyed the discussion even if we've walked away still disagreeing. All in the right spirit. When I said neutral I meant neutral for the Bunnies v Broncs game. Definitely a keen Bulldogs fan and hurting a bit at the moment after the loss to the Tigers.

Fair enough Barry. As a neutral supporter I didn't think you had a team but I get the impression you are a doggies supporter. If this is the case hope they can win today for you. Still a little confused about 50/50 as you has said elswhere that you agreed with Archer that Milford/moga was a no try. Anyway time to move on. I have been reading this site for some years and noted your posts quite a bit. I always thought you made a fair bit of sense and I am not slamming your article about hammering the referees mercilessly. I don't think you are reminding anything down anyone's thought. Definately keep putting you opinion out there. But you do know that on occasion with any form of journalism it will open you up to be challenged The fact is I have not found the need until now to really get involved in any threads and generally after ready numerous opinions and generally finding I agree with your comments combined with the manner with which you carry yourself on this occasion as we differed in opinion so drastically I felt the need to respond to you specifically. I do respect that you keep the conversation away from personal insults and innuendo and look forward to reading more of your comments in the future Cheers GCB

G'day mate. I don't mind at all. It's been, good, healthy, passionate and fair debate. I enjoy discussing what happens in the field. Despite everything I've written I do genuinely feel for Souths fans as it's a shocking way to lose on the back of two incorrect decisions. I just don't think they were shockers, they were difficult decisions. Good points re Maguire. He doesn't often go the refs.

That's not my agenda mate. At all. I wrote the comments in response to Tim's article. I didn't publish my own article and I'm not trying to ram it down anyone's throat. It's my opinion but it's certainly not an agenda. This example has just come up a couple of days later. I don't think you'd be calling it an agenda if this came up six weeks later. Anyway mate, it's pointless continuing as we don't agree on this. And that's fine. As a neutral supporter I think they were 50/50s that were bad calls against Souths but 50/50s none the less. As a Souths supporter you think they were shocking decisions and that's fine too. Good luck next week and for the rest of the season.

No Barry I do get what you are saying. It's just you are wrong. The try was decided by the bunker so was not a live decision. The field goal would not have been taken as they were behind by 6. The first non live non 50/50 design resulted in the second Therefore 2 decisions and neither 50/50. Regarding real 50/50's and number , impact of Souths or other teams errors and decisions, worst refereeing decision of all time and Maquires outburst which was the first I have ever heard from him and I watch all his press conferences see my response above to Emcie. Re Agendas your agenda is one of trying to stop fans whinging about 50/50's and blaming refereeing decisions and I applauded that. I think this was the wrong one to get involved in given the clear cut nature of those decisions I note you sought Souths supporters support when two decisions go against the doggies this afternoon. So last week when Souths had two try's disallowed was there an outcry over those. Did you hear Maquire whinge at the press conference. No. Tell me when have you ever heard him do this. He is always about team taking responsibility that's why so many fans are up in arms as if the usually reserved Maquire was upset then there must be a genuine reason. This along with virtually every high profile player, people who really understand the game, agree they were robbed. But don't worry Barry if you have a dozen 50/50 calls and two dead set gilt edged decisions go against this afternoon and you and you loose by a point and your coach, who has never been fined for criticising referees, has a whinge and you wish to vent then I will back you. Regards GCB

TB, You've got a lot of patience with all this sh!t being thrown at you ! Aaaah, the passionate one eyed supporter.? Have to admit, you're generally pretty fair and reasonable. Just a couple of things though. Michael Maguire is in his 6th year as coach, and seriously, I think this is the second time he's had a go at the refs. Normally he just comes out with the " We'll have to work harder " schtick. Compare that to a Toovey/ Stuart/ Hasler.... With the game on Friday, it wasn't just 2 incidents. There were several (5 ?) questionable Bronco passes let go - but the first time we threw a forward pass ( in a good attacking position), we were pulled up. There was a shoulder charge at the end which was ignored. Potential match winning shot at goal. Also, on a several occasions, ( 4 times ? )the ref gave penalties to the Bronco's on the 5th tackle, right on our line. Maybe the penalties were warranted, but the refs could find a penalty during any set of six in any game if they want to. Why then ? It was an accumulation of incidents throughout the game, not just the Moga " try " and the Milford knock on.

PS my point with the errors and penalties is that should be the focus of the Rabbitohs to fix. They'll get good calls, they'll get poor calls what they can control is their performance. The fact they made a similar number of errors as the Broncos in a scrappy game is irrelevant. Wayne Bennett should be focusing on reducing the Broncos errors as well, regardless of the result.

Sorry, I do see it as a 50/50 and the fact it's still being debated two days later suggests that it was. I respect your calls on the footy and the fact you're clear in your opinion. For what it's worth I think both calls were incorrect and the Rabbitohs were very stiff but I don't think they were so clear cut that it can be classed as the worst refereeing ever.

Ignore my previous post. This refers to own in goal. Yes, the ball was "grounded" by definition. So it doesn't matter if Milford tried to pass. I think they were all struggling for the ball, probably raked out.

Milford was being tackled by 2-3 Souths defenders. There was a lot of lurching and twisting as he tried to ground the ball and the Souths defenders tried to stop him. Show me the point where Milford is able to draw his arms back far enough to be able to propel the ball backwards with the speed he did. Maybe he did pass it but I don't really know how anyone could look at that mess and honestly be able to determine with certainty that he did pass it. Hence, the 50/50.

Right so you agree it was a no try at a point where Souths were leading 24-18. At that point Broncs would never go for a field goal so in fact you concur without those points those decisions cost Souths the game. The call then why the bunker ruled one way or another making it a 50/50 is irrelevant and confusing as you admit it was not a try. Not sure what you are really debating here. Also haven't read any post about the worst refereed game in history but I will take your word for that. I cannot speak for all Souths fans but my frustration is that other fans want to call blatant errors 50/50's and highlight errors the players make as the reasons we lost. As I mentioned elswhere if no players ever made a mistake, missed a tackle, made a poor defensive read, drooped a ball etc no one would ever win a game. Mistakes are part of sport. Part of sport is also a level playing field but those two decisions did not allow that on this Occassion I am not blowing up about the real 50/50's like the missed forward passes, the penalty on Burgess for the high tackle while missing three from the Broncs, the loose carry penalised as a strip, the missed facial on Johnston that has been penalised in the first seven rounds or the trip at the end. All of these are genuine 50/50's. For me when I hear other punters stating there were only the two in the last ten minutes then I want to highlight to those people (you and the Barry) that you are not correct) In regards to Maquire, you may not look at all his press conferences but I do and I can assure you that his message is always about personal responsibility, players discipline, their errors and mistakes and not external influences such as referees. That is why there was such a reaction from fans cause if maquire felt we were robbed well there was definitely something in it. Cannot recall him blowing up or having a whinge. Lastly nice effort at deflecting away from all the real issues however with the whole sorry thing. Nice touch but I'm not buying. I didn't ask for an apology and don't expect one. You have nothing to apologise for unless you were in the bunker. Where you?

Ok so you didn't see Milford pass it. Explain the why Milford whole body lurches and twists. With six hands on the ball souths players couldn't do that. For me this is the evidence he passed he. What's your take on it.

Hear! Hear! There were some beauties on Friday night.

You might be on your own with those thoughts. No issues with the calls throughout that game. Unless we are talking about Rapana playing the ball the wrong way, yet receiving a penalty?? :)