Storm handed $10,000 breach notice

What happened since I started watching RL decades ago, the game used to continue if an injured player was at the opposite end of the pitch and out of harms way, play on and bad luck, but no, this is the storm and they are the NRL's pet club and can do whatever they like. I don't talk about their cheating often, but it seems my club always cops the rough end of the broom whenever they play this lot. The 09 GF, a storm player is tackled and the ref says play the ball, he gets up and runs again for another 10-15 metres and the refs lets it go, the next play or two they open the scoring with a try. And if that wasn't bad enough, they end up getting caught for cheating the cap in that very season. They operate just like their previous owner does, win at all costs no matter the consequences.

He didn't ask the trainer to stop the game because he already knew what was going to happen. It's pre planned.

What irritates me more than anything is this has been happening all year every year and CH 9 happen to hilite this and we have the knee jerk reaction from the NRL. Not saying it's right but there is no consistency as evident when Sivo was down and it's play on . This is what happens when you have one ref. When they have had 2 referees they still don't get it right a la 2019 GF.

I stand corrected

After last year's fiasco on the GF with the trainer's there was going to be a big crackdown. Yeah right - still a joke . Now it's finals time we get this knee jerk reaction.

Well you didn't watch closely, Spruce. He had water & the pickle juice - indicates cramp, I think.

I reckon the Storm would be happy to pay $10K a couple of times per game if it helped them win it. Next time maybe a sin bin would solve this problem forever, and while we're at it, get the trainers off the filed unless a player goes down injured. Surely if you're a 1/2 or 5/8 earning three times more than the prime minister for playing 130 odd hours of football you can work out what needs to be done next.

He's not wrong, BD It's stone cold cheating. Punitive punishments ensure that that won't be repeated.

I would need to see the footage again, but I don't recall Vunivalu slugging down any fluid or electrolyte to aid in the recovery of the cramp, considering 99.9% of all cramps are driven by hydration issues. Hard to think just a couple of stretches would miraculously heal a cramp.

Yes you can send off a coach. Phil Gould can personally attest to that.

Why should the player be binned? Because the team cheated. It's a fact. They were fined for it. Ways to future proof it would be to sin-bin the player. Is it harsh on the player as an individual? Yes. But it's a team game...the ref isn't punishing the individual, but punishing the team. It's like when the ref sinbins a player for a third transgression, even though the first two were by other players. It's not a personal crack at the player, it's a (fair) team punishment.

I agree and seen it as well. A penalty and ejection from the game for the trainer is the current rule. If nothing else it shows the refs will be onto it now. I'm not going to expect some type of consistency though.

Problem is a 100k for some clubs is a blip on the books while others would almost fold. It can't be just a financial penalty. The rule needs a complete rewrite.

You seriously think , that was a decision by the trainer alone? If it was he is incredibly poorly trained. If he is that poorly trained then it's the clubs fault anyway. Of course the club gets sanctioned.

Of course the Team has to suffer. That's what an immediate penalty for dodgy play involves. There are plenty of rules that involve non playing participants. Incorrect replacements, trainers interfering with play etc, etc. If there is no immediate and serious penalty , it will never stop.

Nat i cant say that injury was a ploy . Intent is very hard to judge. But I have seen plenty where players miraculously go down every time the team faces a forced line drop out . Coincidence??? Not for mine. The TEAM involves all participants and coaching staff. The TEAM must suffer an immediate penalty for incorrectly stopping a game. I have no other way of doing it other than a player to the bin. If you have another idea for an immediate penalty , I'd like to know. I don't think a penalty is enough.

And now Bennie (Elias) has weighed in saying it should be $100000 or more. He still thinks Balmain are still alive and well. Another dinosaur putting his 2 Bob's worth in.

so the referee has to decide it's a bs injury, so he can send him to the sin bin? so the team has to suffer because a member of the support squad affected play, by sending someone off for 10 minutes? I agree fines aren't the answer but points deductions for normal round games are. When it comes to finals, perhaps an additional ref could be placed on the sideline. If this situation occurs, they could race on, assess the extent of the injury and make a call about whether or not to stop play, assuming the injured player is well away from play. If the onfield ref is close enough to make the same decision, they could do so. I'd guess it'd take maybe 10 seconds for a ref to run on, assess the nature of the injury and whether the game needs to stop then advise the ref.

I'd have to agree with Paul on the basis that Suli couldn't have known the trainer would stop the game for his cramp. Conversely, if that was a ploy, WOW, $10k isn't nearly enough. Can you send off a coach?

Two things. 1 Often it's a bs injury , so you are wrong that the player has done nothing wrong. 2 Even if it's a genuine ' cramp' the team has to suffer somehow. A fine is just the price teams will pay for winning . I think winning a finals game is worth a few if hundred k or more. So unless you are fining 250 k ( let's say ) a fine is useless.