NRL head of football Graham Annesley admitted the match officials made a blunder in last Friday’s Preliminary Final in awarding Parramatta a try from a forward pass which proved decisive in the 24-20 victory.
While he denied the ball had travelled metres forward, the pass from Mitchell Moses to Isaiah Papali’i for the second-rower’s opening try of the match should not have been allowed.
“Some of the claims have been grossly exaggerated,” he said. “His arm’s curling as he releases and the only possible outcome from that is the ball is going to be passed in a forward direction.
“I’m prepared to concede that on balance and on review that the pass out of the hands was forward. The thing that determines whether a pass is forward or not, is how the ball comes out of the hands.
“I think what’s happened here is because the way Mitch Moses has pirouetted in the tackle, the momentum that tackle has meant the ball has come out of his hands in a forward direction.
“We think that it’s forward based on the motion of the hands. It’s not the howler that it’s been made out to be.”
Immortal five-eighth Wally Lewis labelled the decision “disgraceful” while commentating for Triple M on Friday night although North Queensland coach Todd Payten said the incident was not the deciding factor, adding his team had plenty of time to overcome the Eels.
Annesley added that the bunker had also erred in disallowing a Charlie Staines try in Penrith’s win over South Sydney which left several commentators, including Immortal halfback Andrew Johns and former NSW coach Phil Gould blowing up.
Jarome Luai was ruled to have gained an advantage by changing direction to run behind James Fisher-Harris but Annesley said he thought the Rabbitohs defenders were barely impeded at all.
“In my view this should not have been called an obstruction. It is a judgment call,” he said.
Johns was bemused on Nine commentary: “In ad-lib footy, kick chase, when there’s an error, naturally there’s going to be players in front of the ball,” Johns said. “This rule has been brought in for block plays when players are running lead runs and players are out the back and they’re stopping defenders.
“Honestly, this is laughable. There’ve been some howlers this year.”
Annesley also conceded a late try disallowed to Panthers centre Stephen Crichton, when he reached around Richie Kennar, was also the wrong call by the bunker.
“There is clear evidence that Crichton has got the ball down and that should have been awarded a try. It’s all very well for me to look at this with plenty of time and freeze-frame and go back and forth but these decisions are made quite quickly by the bunker and I’m not making excuses,” he said.
“We expect these decisions to be right.”
Tino reveals why he chose Kangaroos over Samoa
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s lifelong dream to win a Rugby League World Cup with Australia was inspired by Kangaroos greats and given the green light to proceed by his father Fereti.
The 22-year-old Gold Coast captain, who has Samoan and Australian heritage, was one of the best for the Australian PM’s XIII in their 64-14 win over Papua New Guinea on Sunday.
He appears certain to be selected in coach Mal Meninga’s 24-man Kangaroos squad on October 3 for the World Cup in England, where he looms as a key to Australian success.
“Growing up I’ve watched Aussie at the World Cup and always wanted to be a part of it,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“To get to travel the world and play for the country you love and grew up in is something massive.
“I was starting pre-season at the Storm as a young 17-year-old (when Australia won the 2017 World Cup) and I remember watching and Cameron Smith and Billy Slater and going ‘I can’t wait for those guys to come back and train with them’.”
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Fa’asuamaleaui’s father Fereti, aware of his son’s passion for the Kangaroos, was consulted before the decision on World Cup eligibility was settled.
“I have played one international for Samoa and I am still passionate about both,” Tino said.
“My dad is Samoan and my mum is Australian. Growing up watching World Cups and Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva, I always wanted to be in their footsteps.
“It was a long discussion with the family and dad said, ‘You should go play for Australia’. I am hoping to be a part of it.”
New Zealand will boast a fearsome pack including Canberra prop Joseph Tapine and Penrith warhorse James Fisher-Harris.
The Kangaroos are on the same side of the draw as New Zealand and if all goes to plan the two heavyweights will clash in a semi-final.
“Tapine and Fisher-Harris are some of the best in the game and hopefully I get the chance to go up against them. You always want to go up against the best because you get to challenge yourself,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“I haven’t looked too much into it but looking at their team and hearing the talk from everyone I think (the Kiwis) are the favourites.
“Aussies stick together and are the ones to watch out for too.”
Carty wants to spoil Panthers party
Parramatta utility Bryce Cartwright says Penrith will always hold a special place in his heart, except for next week, as he waits to discover whether he will line up in the NRL grand final against his former club.
The 27-year-old got a late call-up to the bench for the 24-20 preliminary final win over North Queensland after centre Tom Opacic was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
If Opacic does not recover in time for Sunday’s decider, Cartwright will likely figure against the club where he played his best football in four seasons from 2014-2017.
The Cartwright name has a special connection with the Panthers with Bryce’s father David Cartwright playing for the club and his 1991 premiership-winning uncle John Cartwright one of the finest forwards Penrith has ever produced.
“It will always hold a special place in my heart. That is where I grew up and where my family is from. I have always been fond of them but … I won’t be next week,” said Cartwright.
“I wouldn’t think too much of it. I’ve played them a few times at the Gold Coast and a couple of times at Parra. I have put all that behind me as a kid when I was there. I have moved on from that now.”
An accidental poke in the eye to Eels back-rower Shaun Lane during the first half led to Cartwright being on the field earlier than expected against the Cowboys.
Bryce Cartwright (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
“I guess the good thing about myself is that I can go on in the middle or on the edge,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright’s career was on the skids when he left the Gold Coast to be with family in Sydney for personal reasons in 2020 and was subsequently released by the club without a new deal.
“It was pretty scary at the time but I never lost faith or belief in myself, whether that was playing park footy or NRL,” Cartwright said.
“Thankfully enough Brad Arthur gave my manager a call and this is where I am now.
“I am a positive person, I didn’t let (not having a club) faze me
“Something I always dreamed of as a kid is playing in an NRL grand final. It is pretty crazy and hopefully I am in the team next week.
“The amount of people who have worked hard to get (Parramatta) where it is now and get a chance to win the whole thing next week is pretty special.”
Cartwright said it would be “pretty cool to see a Parra-Penrith grand final” and even better if the Eels could end a 36-year premiership drought.
Penrith on track for all-time dominance
Nathan Cleary claims Penrith’s development across the board in the past decade is immeasurable after the club stayed on track for the most dominant all-grade season in the game’s history.
A day after they qualified for their third straight grand final, Penrith’s NRL squad backed up to watch the club win both the NSW Cup and under-21s Jersey Flegg grand finals at CommBank Stadium.
After also winning the under-19s SG Ball grand final in April, Penrith became the first club to claim the reserve grade and two top underage competitions since Balmain in 1982.
If their first-grade team are able to topple Parramatta in next Sunday’s NRL grand final, it would mark the only time in history a team has claimed all four of the titles.
“That’s a lot of pressure on us next week,” NRL coach Ivan Cleary quipped to AAP afterwards.
“But I’m really proud … we’re very aligned as a club.”
Nathan Cleary remains one of the longest-serving players in Penrith’s system, having joined their junior set up in 2012 when his father first began coaching the club.
“It’s pretty amazing. There’s a lot of people doing amazing things behind the scenes for that to happen in the junior ranks,” the younger Cleary said.
Penrith Panthers (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“It’s hard to measure (how far we’ve come), but with the pathway, everyone has a clear vision of what the club’s about and that filters the whole way through.
“I think people see that and they see a pathway to actually get to first grade. It’s a cool thing for younger guys to strive for.
“When they get into first grade they know what they need to do and know what it means to be a first grader.”
Hooker Soni Luke starred in Penrith’s 29-22 NSW Cup win over Canterbury, while their Flegg team was made to work harder after trailing 18-6 with seven minutes to go.
Penrith scored twice late before Dolphins halfback-in-waiting Isaiya Katoa nailed a field goal in extra-time golden point to win it.
In total, Penrith and their feeder clubs have won 80 per cent of matches across all grades in the past three years, with St Marys also winning the fourth-tier Sydney Shield this year.
Penrith’s NRL players were not initially due to visit CommBank Stadium on Sunday, but made a late call to go after two seasons of lower-grade cancellations through COVID.
“The [NSW] Cup boys especially over the last few years haven’t been playing but they’re always coming to games,” Nathan Cleary said.
“They were very vocal in supporting us all the way and even in our training, some days they’re doing opposed sessions for us at captain’s run.
“They always put the first-grade team first so we all wanted to come out here and support them.”
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
NRL head of football Graham Annesley admitted Grant Atkins [the match official] made a blunder in last Friday’s Preliminary Final in awarding Parramatta a try from a forward pass which proved decisive in the 24-20 victory but has rewarded the same Grant Atkins the important role of the Senior Bunker Official for the next week's Grand Final. Bravo! :shocked:
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Oh that's gold. Shenanigans is going in. What do we call two or more shockers, or a disgrace, a Dufty and a bunker? Do we just call any other combo a "Full house" or a "Hook"?
Noel
Roar Rookie
Only thing I would add to your excellent list - two or more 'Howlers' are collectively referred to as 'Shenanigans'. That is all.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
You seem quite confident, Jenny :shocked: . What's your prediction for the game? Nathan Brown to clock Nathan Cleary early and take him out of the game? Moses to kick the Panthers to death? A full blown punch up to break out between a trainer and a player? Klein will be the wildcard. He might sin bin 10 or just let it all go. Throw in the bunker and it's a mix for some fun times
Chris
Guest
I don’t remember the Roosters ever losing the players that they really wish to keep. Other than Mitchell. Even when they won a couple of Premierships in a row , they still kept most of the players that they wanted to. No salary cap problem there. Yet they could still buy more top players? That’s quite a different story to Penrith over the last 3 plus years. In fact , they’ve lost good players most years. The answer to all of that is definitely, ‘ what you can do with all that extra money ‘.
matth
Roar Guru
Because it’s west of Brisbane?
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I didn't say the pass from Moses went backwards. I said the pass from Holmes (in my opinion) did. The two things are not mutually exclusive.
Rob
Guest
If the Broncos want to know where their talent scouts should be looking it’s in Ipswich right now.
Rob
Guest
Not passing to Feldt was because Nanai hasn’t scored in weeks. I think the young bloke saw a chance to be a hero unfortunately. I don’t like the camera angle shots they use to confirm or disallow tries at times. The Feldt appears to be touching the line but it taken from in field. I never saw one from out the line at elevation? That the only true way of seeing where the foot is in relation to the side line. The API try is also an angle that shouldn’t be used as you can’t clearly see from behind ? They only show some angles at times?
Rob
Guest
I can only assume it was viewed the same as when Barba scored the opening try in the 2016 GF when Blair was held out of the play?
KenW
Roar Rookie
Third party deals can be a little murky but all clubs are funded beyond the salary cap by the NRL and are spending roughly the same amounts on players. Look at the Dragons current squad predicaments. 4 promising young spine players - 2 of which are trying to get the fullback role, previously held by another junior who neither the current nor previous coach ever seemed particularly convinced of - easy to assume neither would have bought him but they but held onto for 4-5 seasons anyway because he was there. Of the 2 new guys, we'll need to pick a winner sooner or later for the sake of salary cap management. But we haven't even asked the question if either of these new fullbacks are the best the Dragons could have gotten in the wider market, or were they just the best that are currently coming through their system? Two good young halves coming through but the timing is off since we have an elite level halfback (who was brought in) with a couple of years left. So perhaps we'll lose Sullivan, to much gnashing of teeth, or we'll pay too much to keep him on the bench unbalancing the salary cap elsewhere. That's OK, we'll pick up some cheap older players to fix it. Good plan! The Roosters and Storm don't get themselves into these pickles. They're not looking at the juniors maturing in their system and trying to derive their squad from that. They're instead identifying what gaps they will have in the next couple of seasons and selectively picking up the best options (young and old) from the wider market. It just seems to be more successful.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I agree matth ! I have always thought that the Panthers would never surpass the quality of that team of the late 80's early 90's . Their local junior contingent of the 1991 premiership winners included the likes of Alexander, Fitler, Geyer, Cartwight, Vandervort, Taylor , Izzard , Smith , who all came through the Panther juniors together. But I reckon this current team of the past 3 years will eventually surpass them , with the likes of Cleary, Luai, Tago, To'o. May, Edwards, Martin, Lenui, Fisher -Harris, Leota who have all come through the Panthers Juniors. It is probably a generational thing , but it it also requires a depth of managerial skills to identify the talent that will go on to NRL level, being able to nurture that talent to NRL level, and then retain them even if a few need to be jettisoned each year to provide renewal of the talent.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Not decisive, no. That’s not to say it’s fine for it to happen - ideally every decision is correct because every incorrect decision distorts the progress of the game. But no, that decision would not be decisive. In your example, the incorrect decision doesn’t even put the benefiting team in the lead, let alone cause them to win.
Noel
Roar Rookie
Yep, totally agree. If Penrith have audio on it, then they've got a decision to make, but everything else is entirely speculative. I sincerely hope it's a storm in a teacup and they put it to bed.
Bludog
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. The cowboys had their chances, and but for a pass (or lack thereof) or two , we might be having a different conversation about just how will the Cowboys go against an all conquering Panthers this week. I gotta know tho - what did Feldty do to the team that they refused to pass to him! ????
Chris
Guest
They don’t seem to be the perennially successful sides for a couple of reasons. As for the most part. They aren’t the clubs buying up the best players from outside of their own club. In general they don’t have the money/ independent backers to give a big assistance in keeping the best of their own players at the club. Roosters have been doing a good job in producing Central Coast juniors for their club. They can also top up their contracts to players, through other means. Plus, they can still buy the Smith’s of the world. They’re just an example..However, not every club can do all of those things as they don’t have the means to do so.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Penrith have audio on it. Let's wait for that outcome is all I'm saying. So far he's being burnt on nothing but a statement from John C.
Rob
Guest
LOL. Well if they pass it backwards out of the hands it can travel forward with momentum. I don’t know what you’re looking at as the pass from Holmes is completely legal and the one from Moses isn’t. Keep telling yourself it’s the same and you’ll look very bias.
Snoopy
Guest
So, if a team was up say 14-2 in a grand final, in possession and the ref penalises a player for using an opponent as a shepherd, the team receiving the penalty scores to get back into the game, then go on to win the game, that would not be decisive?. I think if I was a supporter of the team that lost, I would cry.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Hi Dwayne, see my longer answer above. But yes I agree it's about decision making, I'm just riffing on the idea that the teams with big junior programmes seem to rarely peak. It's great when it works, like Penrith right now, but there's far more time spent waiting for it to all come together.