When animals become ill or injured, they are often humanely put out of their misery. Sometimes rugby league matches should meet the same fate.
In an error-ridden contest at ANZ Stadium in front of a poor crowd, the Roosters held onto an early lead for 75 minutes and kept the hapless Bulldogs scoreless.
There have historically been excellent low-scoring affairs where the defence has dominated, with both teams completing well and putting immense pressure on each other with their respective kicking games.
This, sadly, was not one of those matches. Latrell Mitchell scored in the fifth minute after a penalty for an incorrect play-the-ball against Aaron Woods.
I wrote a few weeks back that Woods’ sloppiness would hurt the Bulldogs at some point, yet I also recognised that the failure to award another penalty for the same offence throughout the remainder of the match is a continuation of inconsistent refereeing of the highest (or lowest) order.
The try was converted and the Roosters took the early lead, a lead they would never give up and one the Bulldogs rarely looked like diminishing.
With a massive advantage in possession and field position, particularly in the second half, the Dogs reverted to the Des Hasler playbook and ran forward after forward, one out, and the Roosters’ organised defence rose to the challenge.
(Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Moreover, the last tackle-kicking options were utterly appalling, with a bomb from 40 metres out proving the kick of choice. Grubbers were ineffective and attacking players were rarely present to even make a contest of the situation.
The impotent backline attack was underwhelming and offered no promise, with most of the possession shifted wide resulting in a couple of twins running sideways or dropped ball.
The Roosters were more than guilty in that area themselves, with 28 handling errors made between both sides throughout the course of the game. A very disappointed crowd shuffled through the gates at night’s end.
All credit to the chooks, however: they were far more dangerous in attack and defended gamely on their line.
I’m still waiting for the second set to begin; the first set was a dud.
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The same cannot be said of the second match played this weekend, as the two form teams in the competition faced off at Mount Smart Stadium.
With the Dragons under a cloud of illness and the Warriors without talisman Shaun Johnson, it was a tough contest to line up, and the 80 minutes of action lived up to the hype of two teams who have hardly missed a beat in 2018.
The Warriors took the early initiative and went to the break with a 10-0 lead. Expectedly, the Dragons came home strongly and won the second half by two, yet the Warriors held on for a 20-12 victory that will add further belief to their squad and continue the momentum they have built early in the season.
The frightful thing for much of the competition was the outstanding performance of Issac Luke, who dominated through the middle and capped off a brilliant game with a try in the second half.
It was the best performance Luke has produced for some time, and with the depth and power across the Warriors squad when all fit and healthy, the impressive spine they possess must surely see them as a potential premiership winner.
The contest reeked of a finals clash, with both teams looking like top-four combatants, and every time the Dragons threw something at the Warriors, the home side responded.
Stephen Kearney might have something special on his hands with this team, and the Dragons also look like they will take some beating. It might be a fair prediction to suggest that they may ruffle each other’s feathers much later in the year when the stakes are far higher.
(Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
The media-hyped grudge match/job interview between the master coach and the supposed ‘apprentice’ seeking to assume his throne at the Broncos played out in an expected manner.
Craig Bellamy has an astonishing record against Wayne Bennett, and despite a gallant Broncos team, the visitors had the northerner’s measure for much of the contest.
Despite scoring early, the remainder of the first half was ugly for Brisbane, and Melbourne were clinical in establishing a 14-point lead by half-time with tries to Slater (2) and Addo-Carr silencing the crowd.
The Broncos were better in the second period, yet the brilliance of Anthony Milford is still moderated by errors, as his crucial misread of a Storm grubber kick allowed Suliasi Vunivalu to score the matchwinning try with 12 minutes remaining on the clock.
The match was entertaining and befitting of two professional and polished teams, and it was only tarnished by some silly media throughout the week attempting to personalise the clash as a ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ moment between two of the game’s greatest coaches.
In the end it was a quality encounter where the football outshone any backroom coaching deals that may be unfolding in the boardrooms of NRL clubs.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
Billy f***ing slater. In recent weeks, he has managed to fool the on field refs with his 'diving' theatrics and then now has fooled the video ref with this. It was a cold-blooded knock on 365 days of the year, any rugby league fan in the world with basic knowledge on the game would have agreed he LOST control (timing, execution) and dropped the ball. I knew it, you knew it, even HE knew it, but the video refs somehow find the most lamest excuse to give the try and in the process reward the guy for his CLUMSINESS!!! This was not luck, it was just plain stupidity on the match officials' part. What a blunder! This leaves me to believe NSW have no chance in this year's SOO series. With Billy there, he is capable of anything, so when Qld needs it, he'll pull a penalty try out of his backside and win them the game..
Gazzatron
Guest
What a sook and someone who clearly doesn't understand how the advantage rule is applied. They DID play the advantage and Nene scored the try so they went to the bunker to check if there was a knockon which there was so no try. If Nene had been tackled short it would have been play on to the dragons despite the knock on by Graham. The refs didn't even check the forearm which knocked out Harris so I wouldn't whinge if I was you.
bbt
Guest
The dropkicks then used to go much further. Now we see them occasionally cross the 50-metre line, but then I remember the fullbacks doing 20 metre line to 20 metre line while the rest of the team just watched the ball fly overhead. Someone told me a while ago that the boots were made of heavy leather and better for kicking long distances. Or maybe my memory has just blown it up with age!!!
Big Daddy
Guest
The watershed warriors are equal leaders yet haven't had a tv match as yet. Next week again they play second fiddle on Anzac today yet we still have Thursday night, early Friday match and then only one sydney match on Sunday featuring the maybe winless Parramatta. No wonder live crowds are down, the NRL have no understanding of fan needs. Manly v newcastle on Friday at 6 p.m. is offensive to the fans. South's v Broncos on Thursday night would get a much bigger crowd on Saturday/Sunday.
Jacko
Guest
It was obvious the Warriors were playing the spoiling, swarming style of defence What do other teams do????? Every NRL team does that......ANd also every NRL team has been hammered on their own line by the officials so not sure what you are trying to say
The Barry
Roar Guru
Is there a single comment here blaming Slater or the Storm for the knock on ruling? I think most people have recognised Slater calling no try, even after he scored and before the video ref had a look he was shaking his head.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hi bear...with most of those held ups the dogs never looked like getting the ball down, they were one out hit ups in the middle of the ruck. With the amount of ball and territory they had and how buggered the Roosters were they should have done better. But I’m happy to hear maybe they weren’t as bad as I thought.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ha - yeah...I do know the definition of insanity. I can now add that a cause of insanity is watching your team define insanity with four one out forward hit ups, a slow out the back play and a nothing kick!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Gday mate - someone else said that too. It’s before my time, but what was the advantage or the thinking behind doing a drop kick in general play as opposed to a drop punt or torpedo...? I would have thought you’d get more ground in a kicking duel with a torpedo than a drop kick?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I do see what you’re saying mate but but taking a conventional FG attempt out for a second I don’t see the difference between accidentally dropping the ball forward for a typical knock on or dropping the ball for a kick and accidentally letting it bounce before kicking it. In both cases the ball is propelled forward and the play is a mistake. What happens now when someone drops the ball it hits the ground but then he gets his boot to it? Are we going to rule that it’s an attempted field goal? The refs still need to rule intent and to me that seems more of a grey area / fine line to work out whether a player dropped it intentionally or accidentally than working out if someone is having a legitimate shot at FG. What would you think of someone who with an absolute straight face tried to tell you that Slater was going for a FG? There’s no chance he was and anyone that says so has no idea. It’s an easy adjudication to make and it’s been how it’s ruled ever since I started watching footy. This is not the first time this has happened but it’s the first time I’ve seen it ruled this way.
RoryStorm
Guest
Well it hasn't taken very long for the footy fans who hate the Storm to come out of their holes. It wasn't Billy Slaters or the Storms fault the referee ruled the "drop kick" as a try. Heck even poor old Billy felt that bad about the decision to award a try he told the referee himself it was a no try. Forget about this try having any bearing on the result. The Storm fully deserved the win. They played the better footy for the majority of the game and that's saying something because the Broncos were superb also. Sure, there were plenty of mistakes but that comes with the territory when two teams are going at it hammers and tongs. Watching the Warriors and Illawarra giving us the best game of the competition so far followed by the Storm and Broncos afterwards would have to come close to being the best double header on tv in years. Take note Mr Greenburg. The other game this weekend that is a must see is Parramatta v Manly tomorrow for obvious reasons. Which team can dish up the more embarrassing effort tomorrow. Either way I look forward to the Manly press conference afterwards where Barrett tries hopelessly to deflect the heat away from DCE being not dropped to the reserves for his part in the bullying at the club.
Bee bee
Guest
If the ref bins a Storm player for 4 penalties inside a few minutes like they should have then Slater doesn’t get swatted.
Fraser
Guest
Thanks Craig. That has nothing to do with this. #penaltybroncos
Kenw
Guest
A bunch of stats that mean almost nothing. The large penalty count and associated possession was because the Warriors chose to jump early consistently to nullify Saints The no try call was a deadset shocker and worthy of comment, never claimed it decided the match. My noting of the warriors defensive tactics was actually a critique of the Dragons. NZ were unafraid of penalties but if Widdop was picking off 2 points each time I think they would have been forced to change tack.
bbt
Guest
Back in the 60s, a drop kick in general play was not that unusual, especially when 4 tackles came in and the fullbacks would have kicking duels in general play.
JN
Guest
agreed
Craig
Guest
Broncos beat Souths last year when Milford (?) Dropped the ball and kicked it through for a field goal. Slightly different to last night as he was actually wanting to kick a field goal but in this case he never actually caught the ball, just stone cold dropped it and was lucky enough to drop it in front of his foot
Footy Fan
Guest
For many years in the past, we've allowed a certain *small* amount of luck of the bounce and ability to recover from minor mis-execution. I don't like the current trend of over-calling most mis-execution and I wouldn't want scope for refs applying their own unique interpretations and / or mind-reading what the player was trying to do. Most knocks of the ball are being called knock-ons, even when they weren't in the past, such as facing your own line and/or the ball bounces behind. If the player has a minor miscue and either intentionally recovers, or somehow flukes it so that the end result is close to the case of an intentional correct play, then good for them, that's the luck of the bounce, and play-on. Encourage players to attack the ball or take an attacking play with a little more flair. Rather than keeping things entirely, safe 5 barges plus kick, keeping back from the riskier jump & catch or the riskier run/pass/kick. And less stoppages for borderline cases is good. Clearcut cases, fine, have a stoppage.
Wolly
Roar Guru
I don’t think so simply because Slater kicked/knocked on then kicked the ball and you can’t tackle players who don’t have possession so there’s no obstruction there. Had kept the ball in his hands and ran through and scored then yes definitely.
kimboinbrisbane
Roar Rookie
I was at the Broncos versus Storm game last night and agree that Slater’s supposed try opens a can of worms. The ruling certainly goes against the interpretation applied in recent and not so recent times. I would be interested in fellow Roarers thoughts on whether, in scoring that try, Slater has used an offside player, either deliberately or accidentally, as a shield. I am aware the “offending” player was the man who played the ball, but Slater did not kick from dummy half, but as second receiver. The Brisbane player (Alex Glenn) was clearly impeded/ made unsighted by Kaufusi. Should it have been a penalty to Brisbane?