After a controversial round three Friday night of football, Ivan Cleary and Anthony Griffin have disregarded an NRL edict not to criticise refereeing calls.
The Wests Tigers and Penrith coaches were measured when quizzed about crucial calls in their sides’ respective losses to Brisbane and Canterbury but didn’t hide their disappointment.
It comes after all coaches were told in the pre-season not to enter into discussion or criticism of refereeing decisions in the media in 2018.
However Tigers coach Cleary seemingly had reason to be frustrated after going down 9-7 in golden point to the Broncos.
Forward Robbie Rochow was ruled to not square at marker when he pursued Jamayne Isaako as he attempted a field goal, even if replays indicated it was teammate Pita Godinet who had in fact offended but not played a part in the next play.
Isaako then slotted the penalty goal to win the game for Brisbane.
“There’s one thing, do you give penalties in golden point, which historically you don’t,” Cleary said.
“And the other thing is was it a penalty and I don’t think it was. We all make mistakes but that’s a big one.
“You could tell by the way the Broncos guys reacted, it was almost as if they were embarrassed to win.
I”t’s hard, very hard. You’ve got to feel for the biys, I feel for the crowd. I feel for everyone.
“But anyway, we didn’t play good enough … It’s hard to take.”
Meanwhile Griffin also refused to blame the referees for a 20-18 loss to the Bulldogs but was baffled by the Bunker’s decision to greenlight Moses Mbye’s fifth-minute try.
Griffin claimed James Maloney had been momentarily impeded by lead runner Will Hopoate with Mbye forcing his way through the hole created.
Griffin said video referee Steve Chiddy had set a dangerous precedent and Maloney would have been better off taking a dive in an attempt to draw a penalty.
“It was an obstruction,” Griffin said.
“If we’ve got to take a dive, that’s not good for the game and not something we want to encourage our players to do.
“But if we’ve got to take a dive to save a try, that’s what they’re encouraging you to do if they let tries like that in.
Penrith skipper Peter Wallace was left scratching his head after Maloney was penalised for a similar obstruction minutes later.
“Both of them were tough calls on us,” Wallace said.
“The first one – I thought it was just an obstruction.
“Then a set later they called one on the run that went against us where I thought they made a decision to come in and the outside blokes went past the ball. It’s a bit confusing when you’re out there.”
souvalis
Guest
Absolutely right..
Forty Twenty
Guest
It's amazing how many posters link a teams many mistakes to a completely wrong call by the ref at the end of the game. The lack of logic is mind boggling. Somehow if the Tigers make a huge number of mistakes ( which Cleary is not in denial about) and make it very hard to win the game ( which he is fully are fully aware of) it somehow makes a completely wrong ref's call to decide the game perfectly ok. It isn't and never will be however it is twisted and held up in different light. The last thing any team needs when they are mistake riddled but gutsy enough to still be in the game is for a very poor call rule them out of the contest. And another thing, that decision is exactly why I've been calling for Captains Call to be introduced. That was an important game but don't think the same thing can't happen in a GF.
The Barry
Roar Guru
There’s no way that was a try. If Bird touched the ball all he did was push it along the ground. There was no downward pressure on the ball whatsoever.
Nico
Guest
Bennett's just not foolish enough to get into refereeing controversies like Cleary is and has actually put the responsibility back on his team to be accountable for their performance. Wests were simply not good enough on the night. Yes Brisbane were also subpar but were ahead on most statistical measures (handling errors, metres gained, offloads, line breaks, missed tackles,etc. one of the few things the Tigers won was the penalty count). If Wests are going to make a splash this season (and i hope they do) they need to work out why they made almost double the number of missed tackles Brisbane did and dropped the ball so much. Cleary hasn't focused on that and I won't be surprised when they throw up more of the same next week
Sylvester
Guest
I thought the penalty at the end was harsh, but the Tigers were too defensive in the last 10 min for the tiny lead they had.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
That was not a try Nico. Even Bennett laughed at Bird claiming it, saying "He was the only one who thought it was a try!"
Mordac
Guest
This has class warfare written all over it. If the roles were reversed, if the ref dared penalize Brisbane, he would have been out of a job.
Drongo
Guest
Funny, he isn’t moaning about the Bird try. Deflection of a losing coach and the media swallow it hook, line and sinker.
Guy
Guest
Broncos did not have a lot go their way that whole game and played well to get a result dissapointing way to be looked on there seems to be alot of negativity towards the Broncos in general.
Nico
Guest
Cleary would be better off focusing on why his team made 14 handling errors than the refs. Also conveniently chose to forget about Bird's fair try that was robbed by the video ref
Big Daddy
Guest
I was just reading some statement where Greenberg has ordered lodge to pay money to victims. Since when does the NRL get involved in the outcome of civil cases. They have made a decision in letting lodge play and now want to get involved inin civil matters due to media pressure. Also reports that Greenberg was involved in contract negotiations with foran while CEO at Canterbury which wasn't exactly kosher. Their image is certainly bad. Sounds like NRL bashing. You betcha.
kk
Guest
Thanks souvalis. I've just read it and await Greenberg's announcement accepting the blame. Rugby league is no longer a betting proposition
beepee
Guest
Yep! All that golden point does is artificially fabricate a result for the sake of not having a draw. The football played in that period is ugly, and can detract from what otherwise may have been an excellent game. What is so wrong with a draw during the regular season? If we MUST try to break a full-time deadlock, play 5 mins extra each way, and if that produces no outright winner, then call it a draw. The first to score in any period of football, and certainly in overtime, does not necessarily mean they were the best team. It just means the rub of the green, a refs call, or a lucky break went their way. Get rid of the golden pint!
souvalis
Guest
Bernie Sutton has just admitted to the media that the penalty was wrong...
Birdy
Guest
I think I might change my roar name to ",I hate golden point." Waking up this morning I was hoping I just had a bad dream.what a s"#t way to finish a game. All gp has ever done was to turn the game into a fg slug fest from the 70th minute on. In doing so turned the fg into an embarrassment. The fg used to be rare and very well constructed. What else can I say, no more gp
Albo
Guest
The whole problem that riles fans and players, as usual, is the apparent lack of consistency with the rulings by the officials. In the case of the first Mbye try against the Panthers the decision by the Bunker went totally against every other ruling of similar nature ruled upon in recent years. Maloney was impeded on his outside shoulder and if had have dived or fallen over would probably have been awarded the penalty rather than conceding a try. So Maloney was penalised for not falling over ? Why this sudden change in interpretation of the rule ? Surely this now opens a can of worms for every such decision going forward ? Then in the Tigers v Broncos match we had the markers never square all night for no penalty, but then the ref in the 88th minute decides to blow a penalty in front to give one team the victory ? So it seems unfortunately, that teams and fans will have to continue on with this "lucky dip" of decision making, just hoping that they get a fair shake of the "swings and roundabouts" throughout the season.
steveng
Roar Rookie
So, Greenberg told Archer and Archer ordered Klein to give that penalty (in the Tigers vs Broncos game) in the second GP half for that infringement, which no one knew what it was about? How ridiculous, the decision last night was purely taken by an incompetent referee by the name of 'Ashley Klein' and this will happen again with the rest of the buggerlugs that referee the NRL! Mark my words, as I've been saying this for years!!!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Of course, the refs are a protected species and that is why the NRL has so conveniently adopted that coaches ' should not enter into discussion or criticism of refereeing decisions in the media in 2018' how convenient and what a copout! What a ridiculous attitude and no wonder crows are leaving the NRL in droves and will do so in years to come! The NRL should realise that crowds go to watch RL games because of the players and their skills and not the other way around!
Paul C
Guest
Rossco, Remember the Crushers?? In another 5 years or so when a Sydney team goes broke, a relocation might take place??
Davico
Roar Pro
Are you saying that IC had a go at the refs with a straight face? If anything I think he was restrained and should have had much more of a go at them!