South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has delivered a withering spray to the NRL’s referees in the wake of his side’s controversial 25-24 loss to Brisbane at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
An emotional Maguire slammed the officials for a string of decisions and said he was devastated for his players and the club’s supporters. A furious Shane Richardson – Souths’ general manager of football – stormed into the press box after the match and bellowed “write about the bunker now” after the Broncos were awarded one of the most controversial tries of the season through Tautau Moga.
Brisbane scraped over the line thanks to an Anthony Milford field goal however replays suggested the five-eighth bobbled the ball just before firing the winning one-pointer in the 78th minute.
While Broncos coach Wayne Bennett had no doubt it was a legal play, the normally measured Maguire was adamant the call potentially cost his side two points.
“Well the Channel Nine commentators saw it and they thought it was a knock-on,” Maguire said.
“I came in here looking to blow up but to be truthfully honest I don’t think that will do anything. They’ll just hang me out for a fine which is what happens in this situation.”
Even Bennett admitted his side was on the receiving end of some fortunate calls.
After Souths scored three tries in 11 minutes to take the lead midway through the second half, Moga crossed to even up the scores in the 69th.
Just moments earlier, Milford crossed the line but was held up and the ball came out the back of the ruck for Moga to scoop it up and dive over the line.
South Sydney skipper Sam Burgess and Maguire argued the tackle had been made and the play should have been dead, however the bunker ruled a four-pointer.
“How do I explain that to a playing group that is busting their arse?” Maguire said.
“We’ve got fans out there that live and breathe this club, how do I explain the decisions that are being made.”
Souths officials will this week contact the NRL to ensure that the Broncos are investigated after Milford kicked a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time and was subsequently taken off for a head injury assessment.
The Broncos earned a penalty when Burgess hit Milford high. Broncos doctor Peter Hackney reviewed the footage and decided to bring him off to be checked but only after he had taken the shot at goal.
Rabbitohs officials were adamant he should have been pulled straight away and not allowed to take the kick.
Bennett said the Broncos had followed proper protocol.
“The doctor made the decision (to bring Milford off), we didn’t make the decision,” Bennett said.
“The trainer thought he was OK to continue, he didn’t think there was a serious issue there.
“The doctor wanted him off. And Anthony had no symptoms and I spoke to him at halftime.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
Nice on Jim...?
Emcie
Roar Guru
Doctors orders i guess...
Jim sheedy
Guest
Makes sense. I hear, Bennetts been getting pulled off by a milf
The Barry
Roar Guru
The doctor pulled Milford off...? Hee hee hee...
Emcie
Roar Guru
He was checked by the trainer on the field and cleared to play on before the kick, in reviewing the footage at the sideline the club doctor decided that the collision was hard enough to warrant further tests, by which time the kick had already taken place. The fact that Milford passed the HIA suggests that the trainer was correct in clearing him on the field and that pulling him off was only precautionary. Had the doctor not pulled Milford off no one would have batted an eyelid but ,ironically, following the guidelines and taking precautions that other teams have been fined for not taking has drawn accusations of foul play
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don't know mate, I'm not a doctor. I'm not sure of any correlation between ability to kick goals abd concussion but the Broncos doctor thought it was worth getting him checked out. I'd assume that's a better approach than just saying "he kicked the goal, he must be fine"
mal
Guest
You can see which team the refs play for every time the broncos play ..
Mark howard
Guest
Souths always finding a way to loose - walker missing that sitter of a field goal - easier then the first one Milford missed - Burgess looses the ball 40 meters out After that - gifting field position to allow Milford to kick the last field goal Souths in prime position again for a field goal - ten seconds left - choose to run the ball - farcical
Scott
Guest
If you can make a kick you don't need a head check, the explanation is there it just doesn't make sense to me
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be fair mate, both those errors put his team under tremendous pressure. The penalty nearly resulted in a broncos try if McCullough hangs onto the ball and the knock on resulted in a field goal. That penalty is more then likely going to force his team to play without him for a couple weeks.
Jim sheedy
Guest
Your dislike of the burgess twins is clouding what little insight if any you have of the game. They were both solid all night. George gave away 1 penalty and dropped one ball. For a bloke putting in the effort he did is that is acceptable.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Come on mate, thats a pretty poor example. The media hammered the refs for a week over that and then the next game a pass was immediately called forward to deny the broncos a try that was later ruled to be ok. Just last week an incorrect call for a forward pass cost the boncos a try
Glenn
Guest
Firstly not a Broncos supporter, but how many times do the refs give Broncos penalties to cruise downfield when they are under pressure. Another controversial referring performance favouring the Broncos, funny that! First was blatant forward pass but Cows didn't follow script and won and now tonight. Guarantee there will be more poor referring before season finishes and Broncos will be involved and favoured.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Once again we see blatant errors made by officials deciding on who wins a tight match. You don't mind if a 50/50 subjective call occurs or there's a logical reason for them miss seeing a knock on or a completed tackle, but when 4 x on field officials and a bunker can't see what thousands in their lounge room have just witnessed, then its any wonder fans and players are filthy with the officialdom. It has got to the stage where all the players and fans can do is accept that awful errors will be the standard going forward and that you can now only hope that "swings and roundabouts" will even itself out over the season and your mob get a fair share of the errors in your favour.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Baz it's the other stuff that drives me crazy, the ill discipline by George is ridiculous. Tom has been better lately however that dropped ball at the end was criminal and allowed Broncs to march down to kick the field goal. Maybe George needs a spell back with the Bears to get his head right. Just saw the press conference, Madge did pretty well to keep a lid on it I thought.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I thought they're running game was ok last night. Tom and George ran for 173 and 131 metres respectively. Problem is they only played 39 minutes each. So Souths are getting slightly less than one player between them. Albeit a 'player' that runs for 300 metres Penalties an issue, as is George's temperament. Two forearms and a cheap, late, unnecessary shoulder charge in consecutive games. That sort of behaviour is usually indicative of things not being right off the field.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The explanation is in the article. The trainer assessed Milford and thought he was ok. Milford took the shot. In the meantime the doctor reviewed the footage and ordered he come off for a HIA. I can't vouch for how true that is but it seems reasonable. Let's be honest though the kick was from right in front. Josh McGuire could have knocked it over.
Emcie
Roar Guru
3 tries, first one from a bomb to the corner with farah not involved and the next 2 were short balls a meter out, with the second resulting from a broncos knock on in their own 20, hardly genius stuff and they didn't score a point from then on. On the other hand, farah throws a blatant forward pass in the attacking 20 taking all the pressure off the broncos, follows that up with either slow service from dummy half or cramping his runners for space with ineffectual side ways scoots from dummy half for the remainder of the game. And tops it off by deciding that a well covered winger is a better option then a field goal with seconds to go (which is apparently the right call...)
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Terrible reffing aside which cost Souths the win, I've just about had it with the Burgess Twins, two oafs who are chewing up 1.2 mill in cap space. Souths should move them on, bring in players that can bend the line regurlarly, hang on to the ball and don't give away stupid penalties.
souvalis
Guest
Farah having a shocker ? What kind of absolutely clueless comment is that ? He comes on at 6-18 and within 15 minutes it's 24-18... To be honest,with the game on the line,who in their right mind would give the ball to Bryson Goodwin (can you remember the genius' kick off a tad earlier) to kick the field goal ? Dim witted comment..