Trent Robinson will ask the NRL what Siosiua Taukeiaho was meant to do when he collected a falling Nathan Cleary high, claiming that the league picks and chooses what it wants to clamp down on.
Taukeiaho was sin-binned in the Sydney Roosters’ 38-12 loss to Penrith on Friday, as coach Robinson’s men went from 12-6 up to 20-12 down in the ten minutes that Taukeiaho was sidelined late in the first half.
Cleary had slipped on the wet Penrith turf, with Robinson arguing that his prop forward had his arm by his side when Cleary fell into the tackle.
The three-time premiership-winning coach also claimed that the bunker was having too much power over the game, meaning the game was effectively being officiated by two referees again.
“I’m interested physically what Siosiua could have done there,” Robinson said.
“Was he supposed to jump out of the way?
“I think the NRL needs to explain what happens in those incidents. What do they want him to do?”
Robinson was one of the biggest proponents of the NRL’s crackdown in its early stages, but he has become increasingly frustrated in recent weeks.
He claimed last week that the NRL were more willing to sin-bin players when the man who was hit stayed down, allowing gamesmanship to creep into the game.
The veteran coach was also miffed over whether mitigating factors, such as players falling, are taken into account, arguing it is at times when players are on the ground in goals.
He also claimed Joey Manu was the victim of a shoulder charge from Cleary in the first half that went unpunished, when the pair collided as Manu kicked.
“We know what they’re doing, let’s look after our players. We all agree with it. But they are picking and choosing,” Robinson said.
“And I have been disappointed with the Roosters way that they have been picking and choosing this year.
“There is nothing on report, nothing gets seen to. I have to get Joey Manu off during that period but the bunker doesn’t go back and look at that.
“I have to get him off for a head assessment on a shoulder charge…Joey is lying on the ground and nothing gets said.”
Meanwhile, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary did not want to buy into the debate, but conceded Taukeiaho could do little but collect the halfback high.
“The game has made a stance, whether you agree with it or not,” Ivan said.
“The game is accountable for the product.
“I think we all saw it’s difficult. There are so many situations. What are the defenders meant to do?
“But there is a reason they have done it.”
criag
Roar Rookie
You risk getting labelled a whinger but unfortunately he is right and Ivan Cleary agreed with him. And if you're a Rooster supporter you know there are two refs in particular that have a history of always punishing them with penalties, 6-agains, and now sin-bins and ignoring infractions by the opposition. Those who think the NRL love them are kidding themselves.
Cyril Snodgrass III
Guest
Robbo has been engaged in deflection to minimise the poor performance against Penrith the solution to some of Easts woes...Dump "Winger" Mat Ikuvalu the bloke is just not of first grade standard He is a poor defender he fumbles balls he drops high balls In a nutshell he is a liability every time he runs out
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
My point, TKO should have been binned, just like if it was Leota on Tedesco. So there is nothing inconsistent or unfair in that.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I usually don'y bother with rubbish from guests, however, if you ever do notice my posts I'm eternally praising the Rooster's resilience and no, my Dragons couldn't do what your lot have done. They are resilient beyond belief. Doesn't make my comments wrong though, so I suggest you get a bit of your club resilience and don't be so sensitive when a few home truths rear their head.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well, that's actually a very good point. I stand somewhat corrected. They all still train for it, but, yes, a different proposition with 6 agains. Cheers Pickett
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The referee's don't care anymore. They don't want to be a touch judge for Jersey Flegg next week so they are sticking to book, any head contact fault or no fault your in the bin.
Clint
Roar Rookie
He's complained something like 4 times in 8 years and he's Ricky Stewart level? So he should have said nothing after the Parra game? The game where in one play, Teddy gets shouldered in the head and Drew Hutchison practically gets taken off in a body bag and the bunker saw no reason to sin bin anyone? Yeah what a mega whinger he is. If you took your Rooster hating glasses off for five minutes you'd see that there was a bigger issue with late and high contact and grubby plays that came to a head in that game. Robbo didn't cause the crackdown and he's not a whinger for sticking up for his players.
Joey
Guest
Happy for you to leave me off your grooming list thanks.
Joey
Guest
Have you never slipped over in the wet? I can’t see how that’s anything but life.
Joey
Guest
Pretty sure he’d go. He’s the only Panther to be binned since magic round, and he’s been twice including suspension. Don’t know - does that strengthen or weaken your argument?
Paul
Guest
Wasn’t Kikau out injured?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Could have been more ironic for Robbo, Roosters could’ve got a 6 again call by the ref who then changed his mind and cancelled it but the player didn’t hear it..and, well, Penrith scored off the next play to seal it..
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Not with the 6 again rule though DP.
Adam
Guest
Do everyone a favour and climb into the deepest, darkest hole you can find and don't bother coming out. Free to have your opinion but not sure when it comes to the roosters it's an objective one or one that anyone should take with a grain of salt. How's your dragons going? Would they go as well as the roosters if they had the injuries they have had? Penrith were way too good for the roosters last night. And robbo needs to concentrate on the team rather than worry about the refs. My family has supported the roosters for years but I don't mind acknowledging the faults of the side. Bruised by injuries, ill-discipline, inexperience with the younger players and just getting beaten by better sides when it counts, the roosters most likely won't make it far this year and should look ahead to next year
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Instead of Taukeiaho’s swinging arm on a sliding Cleary, what if it were a Moses Leota swinging arm on a sliding Tedesco ? Same play. Would Leota have been sin binned under that same analogous situation ? I think you have your answer, consistency and expectations are there.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
They should have defended better, they all train for it. Over the past few years, losing a bloke hasn't been a big disadvantage. Often the teams down scored.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Robbo whinging about the crackdown, about being targeted by dodgy ref calls, that will do me. There are guys spent time on the sidelines because Teddy was slipping and falling into tackles, he was calling for it then. There isn't much surprise that the crackdown came on the back of some similar hits on Teddy and knees to another chook. That's a big reason the crackdown happened, because chooks were getting hit. Nobody wanting to notice the knees in the back to Feldt when Cows played Roosters. Officials falling over themselves running for cover and apologetic whenever some ruling goes against Roosters cos they're worried about their jobs and he's crying bias? Diving by Morris boys and other chooks is okay by Robbo but now he's lecturing on player behaviour? A guy with the cattle he has, backing he has, club influence and being the NRL team pet shouldn't have anything to complain about. The crackdown bird came home to roost.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Let's reverse the situation. rain and all, if Tedesco was 10 metres out from the panther's line and Leota came out with a swinging arm into a sliding Tedesco (alla Taukeiaho), would 1) Leota get sin-binned? 2) The Roosters have won the game v 12 Panthers (for those 10 mins)? and 3) Would Trent Robinson whinge about the binning of Leota, and how the game needs to protect their star players.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Take your low evaluations back into the hole with you
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Best post match Whinger: Robbo