A capacity crowd in Auckland, the six-again rort keeps being rorted and Latrell Mitchell reminds us all what a difference a superstar makes. Here come your NRL Round 16 talking points!
The Raiders get hosed, literally and figuratively
With the game at their mercy, a gale at their back and their Dragons opponent on the ropes… Canberra’s second half produced nine errors, a penalty that didn’t find touch, balls kicked dead and absolutely no game intelligence as they went down 12-10.
But even with all that, were they unjustly robbed of a chance to tie the game?
When Peter V’landys introduced the six-again rule it quickly became a garden of eden for wrestle rorters, tackle floppers and ruck sleepers, and it remains so today.
Ben Hunt’s cynical exploitation of the rule in the dying seconds, coming in late to a tackle to deliberately slow the play, again laid bare that six-again loophole that everyone except the NRL saw coming.
This issue is bigger than just one talking point and is being explored in more depth elsewhere. We wait to see what Graham Annesley’s explanation is. I think it’s likely he’ll blame referee Peter Gough for not calling a penalty.
Finally, New Zealand is home
After 1038 days, what a sight it was at the sold-out Mount Smart Stadium as the Warriors got to run out in front of their own home crowd.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
And after an early arm wrestle, what a way to top the day with a 22-2 win over the Wests Tigers to the delight of the 26,009 in the stands.
This was just great.
Robbo needs to work on his ref rants
Roosters coach Trent Robinson didn’t sugarcoat what he thought of Gerard Sutton’s refereeing performance in Penrith on Friday.
“It wasn’t a good enough performance from him,” Robinson said post game.
“It wasn’t going to happen in Roosters’ colours. That’s not bias, that’s a fact, that you’re not going to get those opportunities.
“Obviously there were issues there with our team and not the other team.”
Robinson was steaming about an 8-3 penalty count, which included hooker Sam Verrills getting pinged for tipping Panther Scott Sorensen beyond the horizontal – even though contact was at his knees and Verrills was almost laying on the ground making the tackle.
Later in the game Angus Crichton was sin binned after a longer than usual advantage was played for Penrith.
He can expect to be a little lighter in the pockets after that, you would expect. Did he have a case? Maybe, but that wasn’t the way to state it.
If he wants to avoid a financial whack in the future, Robinson can learn from that icon of post-game ref bashing, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart. After that finish against the Dragons the Raiders legend kept it succinct and safe.
“I only needed to see it once,” Stuart said. “Tomorrow I’ll get an apology or justification of there not being a penalty.
“We set ourselves up to win that game. It was a tough grind in the first half, but we let ourselves down in the second half, we lost our way.
“When you’re in a high-performance business there’s always going to be pressure, and when there’s pressure, you need courage. And there needed to be courage on that ruling on the last play of the day.”
A master at work.
You weren’t dreaming – the lights were out
Wondering why Saturday night’s Souths and Parramatta game looked a bit darker than usual at Homebush? Fans in the stands posted many photos of lights not working and stadium management made an explanation of sorts post-game.
Hopefully it’s just one stuff up on one night, because there’s a whole lotta cash gone into the stadium rebuild!
Quick hits
– It’s not for everyone, but I love good wet, rainy footy. I applaud anyone who had the grit to be out in the ‘coastal’ weather Sydney and Wollongong put on for their games.
– The atmosphere in Townsville for North Queensland’s win over Brisbane was great – after the COVID-impacted seasons, that new stadium is rocking.
– There’d been a bit of uncertainty about South Sydney over the last few weeks but their performance knocking over Parramatta 30-12 was emphatic as fullback Latrell Mitchell returned from a bad hamstring injury.
– They’ve conceded seven tries and 34 points in the last 12 minutes of their two most recent games, but at least the Sea Eagles got the points against an Origin-impacted Melbourne.
– The Dragons’ gritty win over Canberra saw them rewarded by replacing Manly in eighth place.
– What a debut for Canterbury back Declan Casey – three errors in horrible conditions, then taken off in the medicab after being knocked into next year by Andrew Fifita’s shoulder. Hopefully he’s okay, because it looked terrible.
– Knights winger Edrick Lee became the first Newcastle player to score five tries in a game as his team toyed with the Gold Coast defence.
– Well played to all for doing their part for the Mark Hughes Foundation round, with the final amount raised to be confirmed shortly.
To the next
The bad news? Round 17 is a split round with only four games played. The good news? It’s the last time for the season as State of Origin gets out of the way.
Thursday sees Cronulla hosting Melbourne, Friday is Newcastle against South Sydney, Saturday is Wests Tigers and Parramatta and Sunday is Brisbane welcoming St George Illawarra.
Not a great deal of import for the finals standings, but worth a look at how Melbourne and Parramatta bounce back after poor outings this weekend.
What did you think of Round 16, Roarers?
Bugo
Guest
My biggest gripe was the bunker disallowing the try give by the ref of not grounding the ball. years ago when i played your own hand wrist and forearm are considered part of the ball.
AJ Mithen
Expert
Not sure about that NSWelshman. Robinson implied some pretty hefty allegations.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I could live with it (maybe on a trial basis) but if it is the new interpretation it’s been prettily shoddily introduced I guess the proof will be in the pudding and how it’s applied from here. I dare say the NRL maybe leading with its chin as it introduces another area of inconsistency… “how come we didn’t get advantage…” Yeah, I always get a little nervous when “the spectacle” is referred to in regards to rules… Good chat…
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Appreciate it Barry. I was reluctant to come in on this due to my mutual respect and fully knowing you'd push back hard experientially and logically. I recommend you watch that part of the presser and hear his whole take on advantage including other areas such as not instantly blowing them for inside the 10. It may not sit perfectly with you/ me / we as it refers to the 'spectacle' of the sport being aimed at. I'm for it because I believe in advantage.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If that’s Annesley’s answer it’s more Monday snake oil I’ve seen support players taken out without the ball many times and I’ve never seen advantage played over multiple tackles. It’s a new level of arrogance from Annesley to suggest those of us who’ve watched thousands of games over multiple decades and have never seen advantage applied this way, don’t understand the 101 of the rules… So next week, when a penalty is given in an attacking situation, we should expect the referee to apply advantage over multiple tackles rather than blowing the play up straight away…? We’ve got a right to blow up if it’s not applied that way? Or does it only specifically apply to support players being taken out? Why only that situation? It’s an absolutely ridiculous explanation from Annesley. You’re one of the commenters here whose opinion I really respect, so it surprises me that you’re so ok with it As you say, anyway…
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
AJ you & I both know Robinson will only get a slap on the wrist unlike Stuart & Hasler who always cop a fine. Robinson is a protected species sorry to say!
souvalis
Roar Rookie
I'm basically just repeating what was said in Monday's referees presser. As for 'doesn't make it right'. Annesley calls giving the advantage to a non offending team refereeing 101. No 'rogueness' or 'rules made on the run' about it. ',,,hardly a unique situation..' a clear distinction was made between a support player up to 10 meters away taken out and one running next to the ball handler ready to progress it against a broken line. So, have I seen that exact situation at all, not that I can recall during V'Landy's time. 'If..advantage..end of set..' he answers this as well. Lengthily but logically for the open minded. Anyway..
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m not talking about refs making a bad decision… I’m talking about them making up rules and interpretations on the fly
The Barry
Roar Guru
Everything you’ve written is fine… but I’ve never seen advantage played in a league game beyond the end of the current play. Have you honestly seen it played like that before? “I’m going to let this play out” just because he said that, doesn’t make it right Ok, forget “all professional fouls”… a defender taking out a support player on a break is hardly a unique situation and I’ve still never seen advantage played beyond one tackle, let alone three If the NRL wants advantage to last until the end of the set rather than the end of the play, fine. But you can’t just have one ref going rogue and deciding that’s now the interpretation
souvalis
Roar Rookie
By the letter of the law and as explained by Annesley there was nothing 'incorrect' about that decision. Like a knock on you play out the advantage, which is the greyest of grey areas to deem when taken. Admittedly he probably should've ended it after the 2nd tackle as the straggling Roosters had all gotten back on side. But it was his judgement call, he's clearly audible 'I'm going to let this play out' to those in the vicinity, no one was caught unaware.. this seems to be the nuance of V'Landy ball , which we like or lump. Don't know if can you throw all 'team on rack' professional fouls in the one basket with a one size fits all when there's clearly far more than one resulting impact. There are quite a few things in the game that should be taken to task prior to hammering a ref's attempt at point punishing blatant foul play, particularly from a repeat offender.
Muzz
Guest
If Robbo wants to make the finals he must continue to play Walker at 7 and a fit and healthy Keary at 6. Sam Walker is now ready to steer the team.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Not one you'd want next to you in the trenches.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Woops. I'm a week out of whack. Must be the bye syndrome.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Pretty poor scheduling, NRL. Was always going to be the case that Storm players would be involved in Origin3, so to have them play on the Thursday, pretty much guarantees no one backs up. Panthers definitely aren't Storm fans, but just think it's pretty unfair. They could easily have played the four club games on the weekend. No doubt Sharks are happy. Getting the Storm playing at their worst, now minus Grant, Kaufusi, Munster.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Seriously, they'd need to finish 2 points clear of the Panthers to win the MP, so they are effectively 8 points behind.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Then why did the ref tell Reynolds the bunker looked at Tommy Deardens foot in the in goal ?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
But tech makes people reliant on the tech and their skills drop. Look what happens in cars for example, how may people losing whatever skill they had in parking coz they let the car do it?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Souths already in - 6 or 7,
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree that Crichton needed to be binned, but I can’t recall ever seeing an advantage being played over three tackles before That’s not the first team a team on the rack has given away a professional foul yet that’s the first time I’ve ever seen the rule applied that way Either that decision was incorrect or the 1,000+ before it where advantage only lasted to the end of the play were
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
True , the Storm outside backs are appalling at the moment. Although they beat Manly earlier in the year comfortably I thought the game was there for the taking because every time Manly went to the left it looked like a try.