Newcastle veteran Chris Heighington has called for referees to clamp down on supposed gamesmanship from Billy Slater after the Kangaroos and Queensland star was accused of diving.
Storm teammate Felise Kaufusi also leapt to the defence of Slater on Monday in response to being taken to task by rugby league legends Brad Fittler and Peter Sterling over the weekend.
Slater has twice been at the centre of professional fouls this year after he fell to the ground after seemingly light contact with Cronulla’s Luke Lewis in round four before a similar incident with Newcastle’s Lachlan Fitzgibbon on Friday night.
Under NRL rules, referees deem a player has committed a professional foul if he “interferes” with a player after he has taken a quick tap.
On both occasions the opposition players were sent to the bin following the contact, but Fitzgibbon’s teammate Heighington believes referees needed to be aware of the matter.
“If he (Slater) can get away with it why not do it. It’s one of those things – the refs probably have to crack down on it,” Heighington told reporters in Newcastle.
“At the time out on the field I felt pretty hard done by, but that’s the rules and you’ve got to stick by them.
“He got away with one the week before so I thought they could have been onto it a bit more.
“It was a weak penalty and you get 10 minutes without a player on the field. I don’t think it’s right.”
Fitzgibbon wasn’t willing to be as critical, accepting his fault in the matter after he put his hands on Slater in an offside position as he took the quick tap in the 40-14 loss.
“Billy Slater is a legend of our game. He’s a competitor and he does anything to win,” Fitzgibbon said.
“The rules are rules. Outside the 10 players are allowed a quick tap and I put a hand on Slater.
“If that’s what the refs are calling and are going to play by then I’m fine with it.”
However Sterling wasn’t so lenient, labelling it “embarrassing” for the two-time Clive Churchill Medal winner.
It prompted Kaufusi to come to the 34-year-old’s defence at Storm training on Monday.
“I’m sure Billy doesn’t do that on purpose … given the circumstances of the game it might have looked worse than it was,” Kaufusi said.
“Billy’s a great player. He’s got the best interests of the game (at heart).
“He doesn’t want to be doing anything cheap like that, so I’m not sure what you put (that criticism) down to.”
Chris Love
Guest
Passing into a player that’s too slow to get out of the ruck area, which he is obliged to do, is not milking. The dummy half has every right to pass the ball in any direction that is behind the play the ball and all defenders are obligated to ensure they do not interfere with that. In any case it’s a far cry from taking a dive in order to see another player sent off. Farah has been just as guilty as Slater in milking over the years.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
This seems to be a phase that all sports go through as they become more professional . Is there actually anything in the NRL rule book related to diving ? They just need to call it for what it is ( diving / simulation) and in obvious situations start to penalise for doing it . It will soon go out of fashion . They need to stamp it out quickly or we will end up with the situation we have now regarding professional fouls while defending your try line . They let sides get away with it all last season until it became a plague . Now the refs have a mountain to climb trying to get it out of the game , whilst being criticised by all and sundry for trying to do so .
MuthaPhukkaJones
Guest
But as a result of the Teachers not being allowed to discipline Children , the reverse which is teachers being regularly assaulted is a far better result .
Jed Clampit
Guest
Billy is just misunderstood.
Cole
Guest
Rugby Union, in my opinion, has been great at stopping this diving phenomenon with severe penalties early on. The correct call has to be that any foul play such as interference with a quick tap as Lewis did deserves 10 in the bin but shouldn't the penalty also be reversed and a warning given to Slater at least?
Doc79
Guest
Bringing the game into disrepute..a big difference in the penalties between cricket and league obviously.
kk
Guest
Apparently Jackson may have burned his bridges at Manly.
kk
Guest
Beautiful, TB. A meeting you will cherish forever.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Valentine is that you?? You know there are other ways to get to play fullback for QLD.
Wayne Turner
Guest
A shame the refs get it wrong so often.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Its a bad look no doubt but I think he maybe he thinks it is necessary to get the attention of the refs. That hand by Lewis and that grab by Fitzgibbon is so slight that maybe the refs let it go when they shouldn't. I'm pretty sure in years gone by a small grab like what Lewis did although it is 100% a penalty would have been let go by the refs. Billy by diving is giving them no choice but to give the penalty. This is similar to players not clearing the ruck so a dummy half throws the ball into them to get the penalty...they can obviously just pass a bit higher and avoid the player but if the player is in the way of his normal pass nowadays they're making sure the ref has to make the choice to give the penalty. I think though after the Cronulla v Dragons game its clear that the refs will penalize any interference as they did when Dugan took the quick tap so probably Billy doesn't need to dive anymore to get the penalty.
Big Daddy
Guest
The NRL and the refs have drawn the line in the sand. More penalties for offside and ptb so Some coaches and players will do what's necessary to gain an advantage. Not saying it's right, but it's in the rules, some player's are smart enough to take advantage, some are dumb enough to stand in ruck and take the risk. Refs have no alternative now seeing the ground rules have changed.
Wayne Turner
Guest
The hopeless refs needs to wake up.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Indeed because NRL refs = hopeless and gullible.
Greg
Guest
Slater is arguably the best fullback in the history of Rugby League. He is without doubt the dirtiest fullback in the history of Rugby League. He has been found guilty or pleaded guilty at the judiciary a massive 8 times in his career for various acts such as a head slam, kicking, dangerous throw, striking, contrary conduct, dangerous contact x 2, and careless high tackle. No other fullback even comes close to that record.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Actions speaker louder than words. He should be a diver or play soccer. He is a cheat. NOT the only one. I'm against any player diving. Finally,this is an example of why I am against the refs penalty crack down- The refs are too hopeless to get the decisions correct.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Todd Carney and Matt Lodge even more so...
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
"He copped a lengthy suspension early on for lashing out with his boot." He stomped on John Skandalis' face and got a 7 week suspension. I thought at the time it was one of the lowest things I have seen on a football field. He has done nothing as dirty since and, over the years, he has redeemed himself in my eyes. One of the best I have seen.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
"Isn’t Billy Slater just doing what the Storm have done so well for over 10 years? " In round 2 versus the Tigers, Cam Smith ran into a retreating Matulino and dived. Matulino got 10 in the bin and the Storm scored all their points for the match while Matulino was in the bin.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
This backs up everything I have heard about Billy off the park (having never had the pleasure of meeting him myself). So many of the players are like this and it's a shame that that isn't promoted more. I don't really classify him as a grub (though I admit to using that term on occasion) in the way you think of a Les Boyd type (no sir I didn't eye gouge him, I was trying to remove his headband) But he certainly doesn't conduct himself with all class on the field like others do. It's a pity things like this come up because it does tarnish his reputation. He is a freak of a footy player, he could just let that speak for itself.