South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has put the NRL referees back in the spotlight, insisting their backdown on the penalty crackdown had resulted in the ruck descending into farce.
Bennett sent a strongly-worded message to NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and head of football Graham Annesley after his side’s lacklustre 14-6 win over Canterbury on Good Friday.
Last year the referees were the focus of attention for all the wrong reasons – their attempt to crack down on play the ball infringements and the 10m rule resulted in a revolt from fans.
In response, the officials were told to relax their interpretations and penalties have fallen markedly this year.
Through the first 43 games this season, including Friday’s fixtures, there have been 516 penalties blown – compared with 763 at the same point last year.
“I don’t intend to get myself fined here today. But I’ve been a fan with what the refs have been trying to do, give us more football,” Bennett said.
However, seven-time premiership-winner Bennett said sides were getting away with too much and the whistleblowers were being too lenient.
“You all saw today, that had a huge impact on the game, what was going on in the play the ball area,” Bennett said.
“I’ve never been in an era of the game when the players are less compliant, they stretch everything they possibly can on the field.
“That puts more pressure on the referees. It’s not a criticism, it’s just a fact. Today was the worst I’ve seen.”
Bennett stopped short of calling for another crackdown, saying the referees had to find a middle ground between policing the ruck and not overshadowing the game.
“They are trying to be lenient and try to get us to cooperate and work within the rules and they’re trying to put the whistle away, but I’m saying at times we’re not complying with the rules,” Bennett said.
“We’re way outside the rules.
“You talk about the Lachlan Lewis, the Sam Burgess blow-up coming into halftime, that was all about what happened in the play-the-ball area. What are you allowed to get away with? Sam didn’t want to tolerate it.”
Bennett said sides had figured out that they could get away with spoiling tactics and it had only gotten progressively worse over the first five-and-a-half rounds.
“Because they’ve tried to have less penalties and less down time, the players are abusing it,” Bennett said.
“You all saw it today, you all sat and watched it.
“I’ve got to talk about it. If I didn’t talk about it, not one of you (the media) would write about it. That’s the thing that annoys me.”
steveng
Roar Rookie
So you and others hope lol
The Barry
Roar Guru
So Burgess will have retired by this time next year…? ????
steveng
Roar Rookie
Fair enough TB “Sam Burgess was embarrassing yesterday. Lewis regularly cut him down and Burgess got up every tackle waving his arms and complaining to the refs” but, if Lewis wants a ‘one on one’ contest from now on, with SammyB, especially in tackling ‘hard’ then I know who I would back! The refs were at fault in that game, I said that before! The NRL always goes from one extreme to another, that is another issue and this game was a classic example of that! Let’s not get too excited, as everyone was bragging the same last year, with GI and Aitken, when Aitken stepped GI and then what happened? The same will happen to Lewis lol
Vaughn
Roar Rookie
Rothfield still doesn't get it. Today in the DT: Old Wayne Bennett whingeing about referees after the win over the Bulldogs, ignoring the fact games are much better this season without all the nitpicking penalties.
antbytes
Roar Rookie
In the red zone teams will give up a penalty so they can recover their defensive pattern and/or oxygen debt. The referee should be able to award a penalty on the run by starting the tackle count again (the attacking team can opt to take the shot at goal). This would defeat the defensive tactic of slowing down the action. The wrestle; slows the game down and if you don't do it you're foolish. Why not start getting stats as to how slow teams are allowed to play ? A good start would be time from 'contact' to 'held' to when the dummy half touches the ball in the play the ball. Funny thing about stats; they pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. This particular stat would highlight teams, players and referees as to their inadequacies in controlling ruck speed.
Ben
Guest
There was a tackle in the storm game where smith was run over and laying on his back but made the tackle. The player managed to get to his feet and could have easily played the ball where smith was still on the ground with no marker. He kept ahold of him and got back to his feet before the ball was played.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I don't remember one other than the minor scuffle just before half time. Rushing in for a melee is usually because one side wants to high light and hopefully for the esculate a dodgy tackle and give the video ref a chance to look at it.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Actually you’re talking about the wrong game. We might both be a bit confused but im sure there was a melee in the souths game too.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Come on Papi... In the few times the Dogs had any ball in the Souths 20, the Rabbitohs were lying all over the ruck and giving away cynical, deliberate penalties. I’m not denying the Bulldogs were all over the ruck but we didn’t invent this tactic. The main reason the Storm beat the Dogs two weeks ago was how badly they slowed the ruck down. Unfortunately there’s a situation now been created where if you can’t bea them, join them. We can’t beat anyone at the moment so we may as well join in...
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree with Bennett. What sticks in the craw a little is his hypocrisy. When the Dogs had a few sets down in Souths end in the first half, Souths slowed the ruck down and gave away 3-4 penalties. Sam Burgess was embarrassing yesterday. Lewis regularly cut him down and Burgess got up every tackle waving his arms and complaining to the refs. Seeing a big man appeal to the refs because a little halfback is cutting him in half is embarrassing. Having said all that Bennett is right and something needs to be done. Giving players free rein through the ruck does not lead to flow. It makes the game stodgy and unattractive. Players make a tackle, refs call held. Defenders put tackled player on the ground. Last defender lies all over the attacker looking at the ref. Ref waits a three count before saying “release”. Defender hangs on longer. Ref says “release” again. Defender slowly peels himself off. If that’s letting a game “flow” I’m a monkey’s uncle...
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
For sure. Hargraves tackle was the final straw But theres no doubt that all those niggly things in the ruck during the whole game previously lead to the bubble finally bursting in the way it did. One high tackle doesn't usually result in ALL players from both teams rushing in like they did.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Yes, they should have kept it up. Losing a few games because of penalties may make the coaches wake up.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Thing is Bennett has the best quick play the ball dummy half in the game. Far be it for Wayne to push an agenda.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
All teams are doing it. And if they aren't the question is why not!
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I think the all in melee had more to do with JWH high tackle.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Agree 100% with Bennett. That game was boring as bat s#it and all directly due to the rubbish refereeing. Compare that to the storm roosters match. Miles apart. and the all in melee was a direct result of players frustrations due to the poor refereeing too. What ever happened to 3 warnings and then the bin?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Benny knows a slow ruck takes Cookie out..thats all hes saying..
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Nope. They're not allowed to. The angels dont get the refereeing leniency some other teams are privileged to
BA Sports
Roar Guru
A problem here is that all referees get lumped in when one referee is the problem when it comes to ruck interpretation. Perenara. He allowed the Raiders to do it last week, Bulldogs saw this and exploited it. Criticise him not everyone. And criticise Maxwell for his video ref disgrace
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm not sure you understand irony. I don't think Bennett has ever coached to push the refs in this fashion, supported by the stats that the Broncos allowed the fastest PTB speed against them in the comp. Anyway he wasn't singling out the Dogs as the only culprit in this game. Win the ruck - yes. Dumb penalty - No. Since you're doing nothing, show me where I've been accusing Souths of doing this for years? Every one of my comments are under my profile (I've never posted under anything else or been kicked off ;) All I said here was it was both ways but you tend to take anything said against Souths as a personal affront. Two paragraphs defending the obvious, defending a coach you have lambasted (self confessed) for a long time and shifting the posts to include the Broncos seems a little "he doth protest too much"...