Is there room for greater displays of sportsmanship in rugby league? Or is there no place for fair play when your season is on the line?
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Last night’s Broncos-Panthers sudden-death final confusingly seemed to suggest the affirmative to both.
It was deemed sporting by commentators when referees stopped play for Corey Oates to be treated for a sickening head clash in the 21st minute.
This came despite Penrith scooping up the loose ball and jetting into the clear, destined to claw back from an early 0-6 deficit.
I’ve got to say, even as a childhood Broncos fan, I thought it should have been play-on, not called back as it was.
Throughout a season we witness defensive teams concede countless points through all manner of inconveniences.
If the ball remains in play, it’s a tricky tightrope to walk by allowing referees discretion which injuries they blow the whistle for, and which ones they let go.
That’s especially the case when the injured player is in a position where they cannot be harmed further or impede the flow of the game.
Further to that, if the expectation was that sportsmanship and consideration should have been shown by the Panthers and the referees when Oates went down, why was it not expected of the Broncos on the subsequent set in defence?
Brisbane defended a stoutly as ever in the next set of six, making no concessions for the preceding actions.
In football we see the ‘fair play’ kick back to a team or out of bounds when a player goes down injured, in cricket we occasionally see the batsman walk if they know they are out, but the umpire has missed it.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Even in combative sports we typically see fighters touch gloves, apologise and take a break after a low blow or other accidental foul manoeuvre.
All add a touch of class and humanity to the contest.
What would have been fair compensation for Penrith being called back from an almost certain try?
Did the refs do the right thing? Were the Broncos entitled to give no inch in return for the compassion shown to them in a vulnerable situation?
If I’m deemed totally heartless for thinking Penrith should have been allowed to continue the sequence of play while Oates lay prone, then I suggest there should at least be a concession adopted for future similar instances.
I’d propose that it if the ball pops free when a player is seriously injured and time-off is called when a team is certain to score, they should be given a ‘fair play’ penalty when play resumes.
This could be a shot at goal from where the injury occurs, or a stab to the sidelines for territory.
But here’s the kicker – a ‘fair play’ penalty would not be awarded by the referee, but instead by the captain of the team with the injured player.
The captain would signal to the referees a voluntary concession of a penalty, the crowd would applaud the gesture, then teams would return to hostilities.
It probably still wouldn’t satisfy those who felt Penrith should have been level 6-all last night after the Oates injury, but it would add a touch of grace to the circumstance.
It could become a convention peculiar to the sport, existing as a gentleman’s agreement and provide a timely reminder of the bond that exists even between duelling warriors.
I’m glad Oates walked away from last night’s game, I’m glad the game remained a great spectacle until the end, but I’m equally glad Penrith lost by more than six points so that the decision didn’t directly impact the result.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
I don't know if you recall Chris Close assaulting Eric Growth as he lay potentially badly injured in an early State of Origin encounter? Close then scored a try. Didn't look too fair to me.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
So he will do it all the time now or toss a coin?
Greg Ambrose
Guest
No doubt this has happened many times before also. It will be very interesting if someone is knocked out cold in the next couple of weeks and a try results.. Which version are we to expect?. Play on as per Joel ( it doesn't matter Edwards) or halt play and deny a try as per Corey Oates? Basically as a fan we just toss a coin to see whether a key ruling goes one way or another, only a few of us seem to think this is an issue Matt?
Gary
Guest
This whole thread is full of delusional Bronco Fans- it's crazy!! So if Blake Ferguson had knocked himself unconscious ( or pretended to ) by diving head 1st into the turf when he was trying to prevent a 40/20 in last weeks game??? Does the Oates try get called back because of Fergusons potential injury??
Gary
Guest
The failure to penalise Brisbane for not getting back 10m or on the goal line when the Panthers were attacking is at least as big an issue as any. I don't support either team but the Broncs are a protected species. If they can't win a title with all this help they should hang their heads in shame. They have had gigantic favours and latitude afforded to them for 2 to 3 seasons now and so far have come up empty. Pathetic really if you ask me.
Gary
Guest
I thought constructive criticism had to be umm... constructive?
Big Daddy
Guest
So we are all medical experts. Do we want another Alex McKinnon episode. The ref was right to stop the game purely for medical and legal reasons
Paul Chapman
Guest
GH, Oates had received the ball from Milford & was running very close to him (behind)O when Cleary "tackled/ran into" Milford causing the collision. Have anther look at the replay.
Matt
Guest
Actually, watch the NRL.com version for comparison, which as I say, curiously chose not to show the player being knocked out by the tackle.
Matt
Guest
Look this video up and watch "Wests Tigers v Storm (Hls) - NRL Round 4 2017" not the NRL version which curiously doesn't show the tackle, but the YouTube version which goes for 2:07. Up 14-0, Tigers bench player Joel Edwards runs it out from his own goal line. Is knocked out cold by the tackle, ball goes free. Storm scoop it up and score. The only care shown towards the stricken player is his own teammate who stops playing to help. No discretion shown here to the advantage of the Storm. Discretion then shown to the advantage of the Broncos. Imagine the outcry if they'd called the Storm Try back. How ironic that the benefactor of both these games now face off in a prelim. No surprise to me at all. Bit slow on the uptake I guess, but I get it now.
Nat
Roar Guru
Let him go mate. He (Wild Eagle) hasn't made a valid argument since last Saturday when the Eagles were bashed out of the finals. Now he just prays for 50/50 calls to highlight how everyone else is wrong and the whole world is against his bizarre rationale. They'll kick him off again with this pseudonym soon enough and we can all go back to enjoying this game for the grand spectacle that it is.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Classic. No coherent argument that can stand on its own so you feel the need to throw in personal attacks as if they'll make your argument more valid. "He knows that call could have cost his team the game". I'd say the 32 tackles in the Broncos 20m for 1 try (which actually started outside the 20m, so really 32 tackles for no points) did a far better job of that. The whistle was blown immediately after contact. What happened after is moot.
George Michael
Guest
Hook thinks the call was wrong because that is what he said later. He is not allowed to say what he thinks in the press conference.. Coaches are gagged or are you that dopey that you can't see it. Hook is not as stupid as you, of course he knows that call could have cost his team the game. Guru status what a laugh
Nat
Roar Guru
The game was stopped. The whistle is everything! It really is that simple. It is fish and chip paper to speculate. Hook has more class then to blame the ref for for a 50/50 at the 20 min mark. It the refs. It's the NRL. It's the CEO. It's JT. It's Qld. I't's the Illuminati isn't it Wild Eagle? Your team is not there so you are trying to drag everyone into your conspiracy.
George Michael
Guest
Garbage, everyone on the footy show agreed that it would be a try if they let the play continue. Moga was in no position to stop this bloke offloading and the whistle makes no difference .
Nat
Roar Guru
Yep, watched the replay and just on the Sunday Footy Show. The whistle had been blown. Look touchie come in. Listen for the whistle. Look at the Panthers prop pleading with the ref as Moga effectively stops tackling. The ball is passed 1sec after the whistle. Back to your Eagles nest Jack. Yes Barry. Very similar!
George Michael
Guest
" It was never going to be a try either way" Hilarious. A try was almost certain if the ref allows play to continue, it is so obvious. Have a look at the replay and stop being bias.
Nat
Roar Guru
Garbage. Watch the replay with sound. The whistle had been blown as Moga made initial contact, then he stopped and only then was the pass thrown. It was never going to be a try either way.
tim
Guest
When criticizing the use of sarcasm, using language such as "you are too sharp for me..." doesn't help your cause.
Matt
Guest
Stick to your guns Rob. You know and I know if it was the Broncos being stopped from scoring, there'd be hell to pay.