Tony Archer forced to apologise for everything

Agreed. Better than nothing by a long way.

Nat - it's your last paragraph that sums it up for me. Parra fans were griping about the Scott forward pass in the third minute costing them the game. But 20 minutes later they were in front and then had a 20 minute period in the second half where they gave away penalty after penalty and made error after error. They played really well overall and had plenty of opportunities to win.

News Corp NRL reporters are irrelevant wastlings - thank goodness for The Roar.

I'm not a hater WE, I hope you understand that but you're reaching now. The NRL have no control over a private Storm function. They did say they don't condone it but they have no influence over it. Exactly the same for an official Police matter. Yes it went away but IF the police come knocking every citizen, player, sporting club and association must work with them. The Police don't care about sport, just criminal activity. Agree Walkers try was too close to overrule but it was at 47min mark. Manly score again, bomb one and have multiple repeat sets. To say that cost them the game is akin to believing Uate's dropped try against the Knights was the deciding factor.

great article Dane. I hate listening to Flanagan, Hasler, Stuart, Barrett and co, ranting because they're side had decisions go against them. I wish we had a really simple system where a game's played and of the Clubs have an issue with ANY decision, they make contact with Archer or whom ever and either schedule a face to face meeting or a teleconference for the Monday after the game. In the meanwhile, the Club goes through the tape and decides what it wants to cover then there is a sensible, rational meeting. Both sides can have press conferences after that meeting but before that meeting, the coaches say nothing or they are fined 100K and suspended from coaching for 6 games. The Club says nothing or loses competition points. That would be a professional way to manage this issue so of course, it won't happen.

An explanation of decisions might be doable I don't know how much good it will do. People are too invested and can't be rational. Players are held accountable but only to their coach. Same as referees. Players don't have to front a press conference to explain their mistakes.

I can't understand this "censorship" argument. You're not censored, you can talk about whatever you like, as long as you're willing to accept the 10k. But there's no reason for the ref's decisions to come up at, anywhere. They don't decide the game, the players do. Put up the footage of the missed tackle that lead to the match-winning try, bag out the player who missed it; demand that they be sacked for incompetence. If you can see why the above is inane, surely you can see that the same applies to the refs.

There was apiece on one of the Fox Sports programmes where t was suggested that if coaches have concerns, they can bring up a maximum of three issues in the game without fear of penalty. However, the referees have a right of reply. I'm not saying it would solve anyhthing but it would allow for the howlers to be brought up not every perceived slight like Flannagan did.

If Todd wants a better example of telling grown men that they need to grow up he needs to look no further than the Storm continuing to celebrate premierships which were illegal and denied another team a chance ie Parramatta. It is truly childish and embarrassing yet no word from the NRL. What has happened to the allegations of paper bags or whatever against Manly? Are you proud of this Todd or do you need to grow up? Nat I believe the crucial call in the game was Walkers no try and it was unforgivable. I fully understand Barrett being furious when all is considered.

If Todd wants a better example of telling grown men that they need to grow up he needs to look no further than the Storm continuing to celebrate premierships which were illegal and denied another team a chance ie Parramatta. It is truly childish and embarrassing yet no word from the NRL. What has happened to the allegations of paper bags or whatever against Manly? Are you proud of this Todd or do you need to grow up?

I do hear you and Barry and maybe you are right, but it's just the fact that they give nothing of themselves at the moment that's the problem. Censorship breeds mistrust. Players are held accountable, but you don't see it with refs. If it does happen it's behind closed doors and not transparent. That does nothing for external confidence. They are just so detached at the moment, they seem separate from the game. It's no wonder they've become the focus because not only don't they account for themselves, they don't represent anywhere. They don't defend OR justify themselves at all. They are just.. there. OK maybe a post presser is a bit deep, but at the very least, a statement, or something, anything, to show that they are human and suffer the same foibles as us all. A little humanity goes a long way.

Always seems to work for me

Do we propose that all players should then come to the press conference to explain every decision they make? Or just the ones that knock on at key moments? We talk about referees needed to be accountable but don't have any of these standards for players?

It's a no win situation for the refs. The losing team will always disagree with a 50/50 call. Archer has come out a few times this year admitting a call wasn't correct and stood down a ref next game. It is of no consequence to the affected team and benefits the following game's opponents.

WE, I appreciate your anguish but in not so many words Greenberg did say quite a bit of this. Even that some officials will be looking for work elsewhere. Barrett was speaking from emotion directly after the game because the Peachy call effectively decided the game. Flanagan took half an hr to compile his list and address the media. That was a calculated sook and Greenberg is right to tell him to grow up.

I agree and disagree with you in part, Barry. While I agree that there's no point a referee explaining a decision after the game when it's already been explained on the field, I don't necessarily think it's a bad idea to have a short press conference-like session with Archer where he can explain and run through rules that led to specific decisions being made. NRL.com used to have exactly that; short videos where he explained certain decisions each round. I don't know why it was stopped, I thought it was a good way to showcase the rules and decisions. To his credit he always admitted when a decision was wrong, too.

Toddles will be out of a job soon and this is the beginning of the end. Despite what he says all the players and all the coaches are acutely aware that at times it is the Refs and Bunker who will determine who wins and who loses. It is just a fact and Toddy is saying the opposite. Here is what he would say if he was not lying. " I accept that the Bunker and Refs mistakes can and do influence the final out come of games. I understand the anguish of all concerned and refute completely the notion that it never happens. In fact this years GF could be decided by a forward pass which everyone at home will see but the bunker will be obliged to pretend it can't. Just because some Coaches and Captains also make mistakes in the press confrences , NOTHING can hide the fact that teams have and will lose games due to ref and bunker errors. The only debate is how we at the NRL can minimise this issue. I am calling out anyone who is denying this and that includes me. It is ridiculous" Over to you Todd , time to pull your head out of the sand , a great big wave is coming your way.

Saying sorry to everything is the secret to a successful marriage ha-ha.

Rubbish article. It's all Jarryd Hayne's fault.

Archer needs to go further than apologizing. He should hold a "compliments day", where all referees are compelled to say nice things about the coaches.