Parramatta aren’t fazed by accusations they lay down to milk NRL penalties, saying such claims come from salty losers.
The criticism was put to Brad Arthur after his side’s 14-0 shut-out of Melbourne last round, with the Eels coach labelling the idea as “ridiculous”.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said in the post-match press conference he disagreed with Arthurs’ protestations before it came to an abrupt end.
Ahead of Thursday night’s clash with South Sydney, Eels prop Kane Evans said it wasn’t a ploy for his team but the result of the NRL’s crackdown on crusher tackles.
“We’re not big on giving away crusher penalties – it’s definitely a rule change that’s going to affect some sides,” said Evans, who recently announced he had signed with the Warriors for 2021.
“Teams are going to be salty when they lose and at the end of the day it’s who wins a game a footy and teams who complain about people milking, they’re just angry they never won.
“It doesn’t affect us, we’re just going to play like we play and continue to do what we do and get on with it.”
Eels five-eighth Mitchell Moses said he didn’t listen to any claims that his teammates would take a dive to earn such penalties, and suggested that critics should try having a heavy-weight defender put pressure on them.
“I don’t really listen to the media … but any time you have a bloke 120kg sitting on the back of your neck, maybe you should have a try and see how it feels,” Moses says.
When it was pointed out that it had come from a rival coach in Bellamy rather than solely within the media, Moses said “everyone’s entitled to their opinion”.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Anyone seen the Morris brothers lately. Mega-milkers. And they are not alone!
Tom G
Roar Rookie
A side with a wooden spoon still in the rear view mirror in plain sight
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
So he tried to milk a penalty for a crusher and the Ref said ‘milking ‘. Problem is it? How often does a Ref say ‘ milking ‘ in the ptb? Yeah, every single game. The big issues from that game were. 1 , How the Ref missed the crusher on Eisenhuth. 2 How NAS was given only a fine for a shoulder to the head without even using his arms at all. 3, How the guy that broke Smith’s jaw wasn’t even penalised let alone suspended.. RL needs to get serious about head and neck contact or one day we won’t have a game at all.
Matt
Guest
It's the second time Sivo did it. The one that had ZERO contact on the head/neck and thus wasn't penalised that has really fuelled these claims. He stays down. He's got more milk than a cow.
Pete
Guest
A lot of arrogance for a side that have achieved absolutely nothing in the game.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
An underachieving club and a group of players that have done nothing are calling others losers?
Jim
Guest
With the crusher tackle being removed from the game the storm will have to find another way of breaking a players neck within the rules.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I said this in another thread that the only charge for crusher to come out of that from the MRC was against an Eels player. It wasnt even penalised during the match so maybe Storm players should start staying down to get penalties.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I watched the supposed ' milking ' penalties again. The one by Johns on Sivo was marginal for sure but look at Sivos face when he is taken to ground. He feels pain. Its not faked. He is not ' milkin it' at the time it happens. ' Now did he stay down after the tackle to make it look worse? No idea, but it doesn't change the original reaction. This idea that if the player getting tackled , runs backwards, twists in the tackle, changes his height, continues to run forward driving his legs etc then when a tackle going wrong it is his fault is total bs. Have a look at the choreography practice put into ' efficient tackling ' , then tell me you can't train players to completely avoid crusher situations, cannonball / hip drop tackles, and head clashes. It is just a total lack of will on the coaches behalf and the lack of will is because the penalties are so p poor, it's not worth the effort.
Tony
Roar Guru
Look, if Bellamy has something to say on gamesmanship we better listen. After all, he's perfected it.