That was the best opening weekend of an NRL finals series I can ever remember.
Three out of the four games were decided by two points or less, and each game had controversy.
There were some spectacular tries, like Latrell Mitchell single-handedly scoring in the 75th minute to seal a win for the Sydney Roosters against the Brisbane Broncos, or Melbourne’s try featuring at least eight pairs of Storm hands before Billy Slater finally put the ball down.
History was created when Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badger became the first women to officiate during a finals series. And we had the opportunity to celebrate one of the greatest players of all time, Cameron Smith, as he broke the record for appearances, playing his 356th game in the NRL.
Finals football is special and something to be savoured. The game changes in September. It is a new competition and anything can happen. The Cowboys proved that when they beat the reigning premiers by a point, despite no one giving them a chance before the game had started.
For fans, finals football means a great deal. Tempers flare. Joy is infectious. Even if your team isn’t playing, it’s hard not to get caught up in the emotion of it.
With the stakes so high, it’s unsurprising that there were some moments which generated controversy and, of course, officiating was the centre of attention.
In the post-match press conferences, three out of four losing coaches referred to either the referee or the Bunker in their assessment. It’s something we have been seeing all season.
When asked what the difference between the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels was on Saturday afternoon, Brad Arthur said “the Bunker”.
Then there was Trent Barrett, who blamed two refereeing decisions for the end of Manly’s season.
“What I would like is the Bunker and Tony Archer and the referees to go into my shed and explain to my players that their season is now finished on the back of those two calls,” a clearly agitated Barrett told the media.
But neither came close to the performance of Shane Flanagan, who had the nerve to come to his press conference with a list of seven decisions that he said cost his team a semi-finals berth.
Interestingly, I didn’t hear Flanagan refer to the Sharks getting the benefit of a 50-50 call early on, when Antonio Winterstein lost the ball but then appeared to ground it on his goal-line before Chad Townsend grounded it for a try. He also failed to mention Cronulla’s 17 errors, a completion rate of 26 out of 43 sets, and a whopping 38 missed tackles.
Even more astounding is that back in 2013 when the Sharks beat the Cowboys 20-18 after Beau Ryan scored in a seven-tackle set, Flanagan made a point of insisting that there had been nothing ‘sinister’ in the decision and recognised that referees are human and make mistakes.
(AAP Image/Jane Dempster)
If you listen to the media and the fans, rugby league has several problems. Crowds. Ticket prices. Scheduling.
None of these come close to what is one of the most significant problems our game has: a culture of players, coaches, commentators and fans having the audacity to blame a referee when their team loses.
It’s embarrassing and it’s petulant. It makes our game look childish, and gives the impression our coaches and players are unable to take responsibility for their own actions. It suggests there’s always someone else to blame.
Todd Greenberg should be applauded for coming out yesterday and saying that the game needs to grow up. And the $20,000 fines which reportedly will be issued to both Barrett and Flanagan are more than just. Hopefully the NRL take swift action on any other coach who thinks it is appropriate to criticise our officials in a similar manner.
I don’t have a problem with coaches making suggestions about how the game should be administered. Open dialogue is important. A game that does not take ideas and suggestions from key stakeholders is one that will not move forward. But there is a big problem with the way these coaches conduct themselves.
We all have a role to play in this. If you are in the media, particularly as a commentator, you have a responsibility to understand the rules of the game so that when you make a comment on a decision it is accurate. It’s not what you think or what you would like to see – you have a responsibility to help educate the fans on the rules and what the correct decision is.
Where it is a 50-50 decision, you should make that clear and set out your reasons for leaning the way you do, and then not blow up if the referees interpret it a different way.
If you are a fan who is solely blaming the refs for your team’s loss, you are also part of the problem. I encourage you to go back and watch your team again. Make sure you note down all the errors made, the penalties conceded and the poor options in attack and defence. It’s all those moments put together that contribute to a loss – not a bad call here or there.
If you are someone who goes on and on about one-sided penalty counts, understand that penalty counts are not there to be even. Just because one side gets a penalty doesn’t mean the other should as well. It is a reflection on discipline and playing in accordance with the rules. Just because one team is better at doing that on the day than another, does not suggest the referees have done a bad job.
In the end, North Queensland Cowboys coached Paul Green summed it up beautifully, “We didn’t deserve to win that game, but we found a way.”
Instead of finding a way, the Sharks decided to blow their opportunity and then blame someone else for it.
Blaming the referees is a scourge on our game – don’t be part of a culture that blames others. As a game, aren’t we better than that?
Joe
Guest
Rubbish ,the referees are spoiling the game,to much unnecessary whistle
The Riddler
Guest
Something the writer of the article does not understand - refs/linies/bunker mistakes could cost players and especially coaches their jobs- officials might be demoted for a week or so but never lose their job- If one was to write an article on this they would write about both sides of the equation - failure of an article to not have a balanced view. Archer and Greenburg have to go at the end of this year- cannot have another year of these two epods- Officialdom standards are rapidly declining and the game is rapidly declining under Greenburg - dwindling junior numbers - both country and city areas/ dwindling crowd numbers/ cannot even negotiate an EBA etc etc - How the NRL chose Greenburg over a far far more qualified Candidate in Bernie Gurr is anyone's guess
The Riddler
Guest
What was the incident and the decision though that Harrigan as you say cannot articulate
The Riddler
Guest
Coaches and Players are employed by their relevant clubs AND not by the NRL if you knew anything - NRL Management and NRL Officials are employed by the NRL and can be sacked by the NRL Board - to make it easy for the NRL Board the first two that should be sacked are Greenburg and Archer
The Riddler
Guest
Refs /touchies and bunker make way too many mistakes- the article does not provide a true comment on how these mistakes cost teams wins and cost coaches their jobs too- PC Leftism again and a total rubbish article. NRL should make refs/touchies and the bunker explain their decisions to not only players and coaches but also to fans- none of this happens as they are considered protected species protected by an incompetent NRL Management.- They should be fully accountable which they are not for their mistakes - Archer drops them for a week - big deal- nothing will change when that epod is still in charge. The standard of officialdom is sub standard and should be stated as such- Archer's time is well and truly up too- time he got punted. 2017 should be his last. Greenburg should never have been appointed to his role too when a far better and more qualified candidate in Bernie Gurr was available. NRL management are totally clueless in relation to how the game is managed and played/ how to increase crowd numbers and to improve the game from grass roots to NRL level. They cannot even negotiate a new EBA - Totally hopeless a game run by hacks
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Have you considered investing in a mirror, WE?
Wild Eagle
Guest
Get help mate you are just getting more deluded every post.
The Barry
Roar Guru
And I'm not saying anything about being in denial. It's the very definition of being a hypocrite and a bad sport to constantly harp on about a decision that went against you and ignoring the one you got. The problem is only LOSERS get the opportunity to bring bad decisions up. Winners don't get the same chance.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I get sick of people like you whining about one decision that went against you in a game 22 years ago and blaming that for a loss where your team got comprehensively pumped. You also ignore the favourable decision that went your way. I agree we don't know how the rest of the game worked out. But given the end result was a three tries to nil, 17-4 victory we can have a good guess. But the fact that you're willing to write off another teams victory based on one decision early in the game shows what a bad sport you are.
Tom G
Guest
Allowing standards to drop to the the lowest common denominator and defending it blindly is not a great strategy. The NRL should be run like a business but sadly it remains a mates club where only those with a face that fits gets by. Any dissent is met with howls of derision from the Pollyanna media clique and penalties imposed by CEO impressionist Greenberg.
Wild Eagle
Guest
I agree with a lot of what you are saying Tom. Edit - both of you. More than 10 years ago I was talking to a mate about the Union. This is before it's decline in Australia and articles appeared by ex players saying that it was stuffed and was in dire straits. Basically I said as a part time fan ( full time Nrl fan ) that union would be in big trouble soon unless they dealt with several issues. I was finding it unwatchable. I was met with denial and ridicule by a person nearby. I don't have the same feelings about NRL but the denial has got me concerned. If the NRL is heading towards an iceberg as it could be, the strategy is all so typical. Shuffle the deck chairs and attack any rational comments on how things could be possibly fixed. The logic that wrong decisions by refs doesn't influence the result of games is so breathtaking that I'm just reeling in shock that so many are supporting this ridiculous concept The false optimism that this GF can't be decided by the Ref etc is pure denial. It has happened before and will happen again. The worlds biggest whinger could become a coach and get fined out of existence. It doesn't mean that he hasn't got valid points however.
Wild Eagle
Guest
Instead of suggesting people re read a boring article you would be better reading a couple of comments from Tom G on here and debate an issue. He has raised incredibly valid points against the article and I can tell you now he is smarter than you and I put together.
Wild Eagle
Guest
I was unaware of Harrigans special rule to favor the Raiders. I see that you have had no comments on your reasoned observations TomT . Based on all I have read recently the advice to Wayne Pearce would be that one ruling like that had no impact on the final result and if you speak of your anguish not only are you wrong but you need to grow up. The fact that someone who played the game like Pearce felt that it was a turning point doesn't have an impact on some keyboard warriors who know everything. What they fail to see is that games can swing on a single decision. It can't be that hard to see can it? I remember watching Manly's loss in 95 at a work place and after the game finding out that a try was scored on a 7th tackle along with the earlier forward pass one. Telling fans of other clubs of this was a waste of breath , none of them were interested.
Wild Eagle
Guest
The first try was unfairly awarded to the dogs and clearly altered everything from this point on. You have no idea on the impact and neither do I. If you don't think that is a problem that needs fixing then you really have no idea I'm afraid. Greg Hartley wrongly gave Manly an extra tackle or two back in the 70's against Parra and I don't remember the direct impact but I'm never going to accuse a Parra fan of being bias about raising a fact. I get quite sick of people like you crapping on about fans who don't counter balance everything they say with a mistake by their own team. At times team cop a rough deal and I accept it whichever team it is. Stop assuming and stating otherwise. Just because a coach doesn't go thru every mistake by his own team it doesn't actually prove anything at all about denial or any other crap.
Wild Eagle
Guest
There will be more of them to see by far without the video ref. That is never going to work.
Tom G
Guest
you seriously shouldn't bother if you discount crowd size as a kpi for the clowns at Moore park
Rob
Guest
What worries me is someone (Bunker) is going to claim the ball went in a backwards direction off the hands into the bread basket onto the foot whilst trying to catch the ball, so it's play on. In the Cowboys V Broncos game Milford created a try out of an attempted kick that at no stage touched his boot but came off his upper shin (just below the knee). The Bunker deemed it a kick because that's what he was attempting even though it never touched the boot at an stage. In the Peachy try the ball was propelled of his upper chest and shoulder then onto his knee in a forward direction as he attempted to catch it. It was a try because it appears to have missed his finger tips even though he was attempting to catch the ball. Biggest howler for me was the 2 Manly players holding onto the ball catching a bomb and the player in front grounds it? There are problems with the rules interpretations(intention) not being interpreted correctly.
Patrick Logan
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry did I give an opinion? How outrageous. An explanation followed up by a sound suggestion is not a direction and true, you can completely disagree with an article like this and fill your head with garbage. It's a fair suggestion so why not advocate for this improvement?
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Then maybe you should put your hand up and become a referee!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Yawn. Yes because big crowds = success automatically. I'm not even going to bother.