Like a ruptured oil tanker at sea, that’s the scale of the mess the NRL face after the latest addition to Russell Crowe’s Book of Feuds.
As remnants from league’s latest spill lap the shoreline, the key question for bigwigs following the Friday night Roosters-Rabbitohs shambles is where to commence the cleanup.
Surprisingly calm in the wash up, Trent Robinson pointed towards the darker spots. Despite the scars of a 54-12 thumping, the Roosters coach planted both feet and with the grace of Ernie “The Big Easy” Els, simply teed off.
Whack, long and straight, fizzing above the fairway. First, he landed on the refs, then bounced off the bunker before hitting the rule makers and rolling into the cup.
The ace will slug the Roosters’ hip pocket, but the fine is irrelevant. For a competition whose rule book never leaves the printers, it’s a line through the oil-soaked sand that chairman Peter V’landys can’t ignore.
Ahead 24-12 nearing the hour mark, Souths were never really under threat in a game that until that point had failed to deliver on a century of hate.
Apart from bragging rights and with third spot already secured, the result was largely inconsequential to the Rabbitohs’ season.
Latrell Mitchell, earth to Latrell? Wayne Bennett must still be asking the question.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Now through a fractured cheekbone, if Joey Manu could, he’d probably be asking the same thing.
In a split-second of madness, Mitchell’s reckless shoulder not only ended his season and that of his former teammate, it has left the Bunnies’ prospects under a very dark cloud.
Of more concern was the immediate on-field fall out, or lack thereof. In a season divided by its wild variation in punishments for head-high contact, it’s fair to say, even in the 1980s the Rabbitohs fullback would’ve been showered by the time the final siren sounded.
The fact referee Ashley Klein and Bunker side-kick Henry Perenara failed to dismiss Mitchell for more than ten minutes was central to Robinson’s post-match burn. And in a show of solidarity the following day, the NRL acknowledged Perenara’s error and were quick to demote the former referee from Saturday’s games.
Klein and Perenara are right to take their medicine, but in an environment where rules and interpretation expectations continue to change, alongside the other whistleblowers, they’re on a hiding to nothing.
From high shots to crushers, the next blitz is always just around the corner.
The only thing more absurd than a revolving rule book is an expectation of consistency among the referees.
Impossible to appease the masses at the best of times, banking on logical decisions while the top brass pander to television executives is like expecting governments to align on a COVID strategy.
And that’s not to excuse Klein for not marching Mitchell, but the muddled look on his face mirrored a culmination of doubt fashioned over the months since the comp kicked off.
It’s just the tip of the iceberg – the indecision doesn’t stop on the field, it filters through to the match review committee and judiciary.
Now, with the finals just a fortnight away, the time to rectify the mess has passed.
So, just like Trent Robinson, have a blow up when your team is dudded. Just don’t sound surprised, and show some compassion for the refs as you shake your fist towards the chiefs at the roundtable.
PaulC
Guest
I like many fans get frustrated with the Bunker at times and some Fans would like to get rid of it completely. Always it seems to be negative criticism of the Bunker but please look from the other angle at what the Bunker brings to our game. The incredible tries scored on the side lines before the Bunker came into being would in many case have been disallowed by the Referee. The list goes on on the positives of the Bunker. Without the Bunker the TV Stations 9 & Fox would have a field days replaying Referee mistakes on side line tries, illegal strips & more. Referees & Officials are human & generally the games are run professionally. There are Journos & a lot of former footballers out there making a living out of Rugby League & they have to be heard to be seen working. Present company excluded, I find it difficult to understand the constant criticism of our great game by some not all former former footballers who never played our modern game.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Looking forward to some great footy. I will however be very disappointed if the referees and bunker blokes burden the games with blatantly incorrect inconsistent adjudications. A Grand Final without adjudication blunders would be truly GRAND. But I tell myself I'm dreaming lol Who’d want to be a referee in the NRL? You’d have to be crazy! :silly:
Womblat
Guest
That's wokedom in a nutshell. People telling others what they need to like. Got any ratings we could study?
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Or is it currently falling to the Woke Revolution? I dunno ... do the wokes approve of NRLW.?
Womblat
Guest
100%. This sport thrived for 110 years before he got his claws into it. It survived two world wars, depressions, countless clubs folding and being born, and even the Woke Revolution. Vlandis might know the business but he doesn't seem to respect the sport enough to leave it's rules alone. Agreed, time to move on. He's remodeled this sport enough and needs to move onto something he might do better at reinventing, like full contact golf or tackle chess on large scale boards. Mmmm...
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Thanks for sharing, Snowy - shame it has come to this point. How about terms like 'inside shoulder' - an obstruction is an obstruction, terms like this just confuse everyone across the board. No need. Who'd be a ref. That said, I can't wait for the finals.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Well said Mr Hosken. Perhaps someone will take notice now, but I don’t think so. I’m almost at the point of no return. It’s expected that some calls are questionable to say the least. There’s those blasted ones labelled as ‘50/50 calls’ and don’t get me started on which teams end up with the benefit. What does the rule book say? Best to go by the book… except I’ve never found a modern version of THE RULE BOOK. Some rules are never policed because the game has forgotten about them. Doesn’t mean they aren’t written down somewhere as a rule and Bunker Henry, and his referee colleagues could just as likely reach into the dark and dusty depths to drag one of them out into the light of day at any time in any game. The shepherd comes to mind. I could be wrong but I don’t believe that rule in general play has been repealed? A referee dug it out of his memory castle a few weeks ago and called out the Storm for it. Surely he knows that the Storm are masters of the shepherd in general play?! I won’t go on. You did mention everything that gets me hot under the collar and leads to me turning the box or the radio off and stomping out of the house to get some air. Mostly I turn the box back on for some more torture from the overburdened officials. It’s a passion that is not yet dead. It’s moaning and groaning and swearing most foul but still kicking. Thank you for this article because your opinions mirror mine. I’ve raved about these things for a few years now, but not as succinctly to be sure.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Very welcome at Penrith we note, after all he is a Member of the Penrith's Referee Association.
Adam
Roar Guru
I'm assuming Atkins is not welcome in Redfern?
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Thanks Paul - hopefully they manage to keep a few in the can.
Paul Monaro
Roar Rookie
Very well written Jason. What a can of worms
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Nat - agree 100% on Perenara, but I'd add Grant Atkins there too...He's the guy that made AFB leave town.....
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Thank Geoff. Certainly frustrating for fans. You’ve got to give credit to those who put their hand up to ref, tough enough job even without the posts on the move. Hopefully we see an off season without any changes, time for all to re-equilibrate.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Terrific piece thanks, Jason. Without a solid, consistent framework and set of guidelines, that they are a party to the putting together of, the refs are on a hiding to nothing. That's not to excuse obvious errors made in the run of play, but with respect to all of the changes in rules and emphasis that are thrown at them on the run, it is a nonsense for administrators in particular, to expect a level of consistency, accuracy and professionalism that they themselves lack.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Great to hear from you kk, hope you are well. Cam Smith grappling on the 73rd, it just makes sense.
kk
Roar Pro
Compelling read,Jason. Balanced and informative with a good measure of common sense known as Hoskenology. In golfing terms the Latrell incident was previewed with Cam Smith's tee shot at the 73rd hole playoff at New Jersey. Beyond belief. The Bunker is in its formative years, both the operation and those engaged therein. We just have to be patient to work it correctly. A revised Rule Book is an imperative.
andrew
Roar Rookie
The endless bunker replays, the cynic in me believes it's part of the deal KFC has with the NRL, more replays means more exposure. Also i couldn't care less about 50 nuggets for $2 .
no one in particular
Roar Guru
It's acting as a supervisor micro-managing the ref
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I hear ya. I still can’t belief Robbo wasn’t slamming fists into the table at the presser - he really needs to be drug tested.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Bunker kills me. New rules to speed the game up offset by needless bunker replays - just send me a KFC voucher.