The Rebels’ season of promise has taken yet another strong stride forward, as Brad Wilkin’s men held on to secure a controversial come-from-behind 40-34 victory over the Queensland Reds in Melbourne.
Trailing 14-0 after as many minutes, the Rebels quickly responded and extraordinarily took a 26-14 lead into the main break.
But the Reds managed to burst out of the blocks in the second half, with Brad Thorn’s half-time talk worked wonders as the visitors scored three straight tries to take back the lead.
Once again though, the Rebels came back scoring two converted tries to seize back the momentum and move to a 40-34 lead.
Vaiolini Ekuasi celebrates during his side’s win at AAMI Park on March 25, 2023, in Melbourne. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
It was at that back point, the controversy began at Television Match Official Brett Cronan lobbed twice in the final 10 minutes.
After replacement loose-forward Daniel Maiava appeared to have pounced on an under pressure Tate McDermott to run 50 metres to score, Rebels captain Brad Wilkin was first deemed to have stripped the ball loose of Harry Wilson.
Soon after, in the 77th minute, McDermott’s own try out wide, which would have given James O’Connor a chance to give the visitors a late lead, was rubbed out after Ryan Smith was deemed to hold Josh Kemeny back despite the flanker moving in the wrong direction.
Both incidents, particularly the latter, were criticised by former Wallabies Tim Horan, Drew Mitchell and Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport.
“It doesn’t stop him from getting there. He had already made his decision to go open,” Mitchell said.
“I just think that refereeing decision isn’t up to Super Rugby Pacific standard. I think Brett Cronan’s got it wrong. I think they’ve talked [Graham] Cooper into it. When he says it’s a clear hold back, it’s not. When they say it denies the opportunity to make a tackle that was never going to be made, it’s wrong. They’ve got that wrong,” Turinui added.
Tate McDermott was denied a late try that would have given James O’Connor the chance to put the Reds in front. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
The Reds had one final chance to win the game, but despite attacking the Rebels’ line for more than 14 phases some loose play meant the home side held on to secure an important win.
McDermott didn’t want to comment on the controversial decision to rub out his late try.
“I don’t know, we’ll have to have a look. But I’m pretty disappointed,” he said.
The halfback, who curiously came off the bench, bemoaned his side’s ill-discipline but said the Rebels deserved their win.
“I’ve got to take my hat off to the Rebels. They’re a different beast this year and they’re going to give a lot of teams a run for their money,” he said.
“But, from us, obviously very disappointing. We’ve got to pick ourselves up. We’ve got to move on.”
Wilkin, who was without his back-row fetching partner Richard Hardwick, paid tribute to his side’s ability to keep in the fight.
“Very relieved,” he said.
“That was a tough old battle. It went tip-for-tat, so I’m just very proud of the way the boys stuck in and fought back when tries were scored.”
Carter Gordon celebrates with Cabous Eloff after the Rebels hung on in a cliff-hanger over the Reds. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
It was the Rebels who blinked first during a helter-skelter match, as a sublime inside ball from James O’Connor saw Josh Flook coast through a hole to score after 10 minutes.
Jordan Petaia then made the difficult look easy as the Test outside back effortlessly pounced on a dangerous chip kick from Kelani Thomas to score and give the Reds a 14-0 lead.
But the Rebels hit back hard, as they started to win the physical battle and Carter Gordon managed to get quick ball as midfield pairing David Feliaui and Stacey Ili stormed over the gain line.
Ryan Louwrens scored a beautiful team try as Ili dropped the ball on the toe and Monty Ioane picked it up and found his halfback on the inside.
Kemeny, who was at the centre of the controversy at the end, then managed to claw his way over in tight, before Matt Gibbon gave the Rebels the lead after 31 minutes.
It was raining tries when back-rower Vaiolini Ekusai scored out wide to give the Rebels a 26-14 lead at half-time.
But the Reds came back, as Petaia and Flook grabbed their second tries and Ryan Smith barged his way over.
Some lovely work saw Joe Pincus make a timely hit back for the home side, before O’Connor gave the Reds a slender 34-33 lead after 65 minutes with a penalty.
But Angelo Smith’s try saw the Rebels move back in front, before the controversial ending.
The win saw the Rebels move into seventh spot on the standings on 10 points, one point behind the Reds who are in sixth.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Yeah, saw that as well, Tate seemed to complain to the ref about it but nothing.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Just before the end, Tuttle was lying in the ground amongst the reds after a cleanout and he tackled a Reds player running by. He was never on side - right in front of the ref and no action taken. The Reds player did not expect to be grabbed by a player on the ground who was off side.
Wrecked 'em
Roar Rookie
Did the ref make the right call ? Conjecture. Would the Rebels player have made the tackle without the Qld player being offside and holding the jersey ? Conjecture. Only way to eliminate it in this instance is don't be offside, don't hold the jersey. No more conjecture. Pretty simple.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Busted Fullback - I stopped short of alleging an obstruction now thinking -if Smith's not in the way, does Kemeny get enough of a view of Tate to move right and make the tackle? I think yes.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day Paul. I’m happy to agree with your observations. Not only standing off side but making no effort to get onside. Thanks for making me think further. :thumbup:
piru
Roar Rookie
I was always told the same thing Short Arm You could spend all game blowing things up if you wanted to (Murphy certainly does)
Paul
Roar Rookie
I watched the I incident a couple of times. Happy to be corrected but it looked like Kemeny's been grabbed and held by the sleeve before Tate picks up the ball and starts his run. Second to that, isn't the offending reds player offside at that point? It might be the camera angle of course but I do wonder...
Jacko
Roar Rookie
is Brad up to the task? Its a question worthy of anyone who isnt crowned champion I guess Ken. I believe with who Brad has, that he achieves roughly what Id expect and altho getting beaten by the Rebels isnt what I had expected, I also hadnt expected the Rebs to beat the Tahs either so I think perhaps the Rebels are the team performing different to expectations. I think you do give two hoots... :laughing: :laughing:
Grev
Roar Rookie
I would love to see a ref perspective on every game, if you could rely on a ref to be truly objective and not a decision defender. I was more pissed off with some of the other decisions in that game TBH. At 14-0 with all the momentum Josh Fluke is hard on attack and rolls ONCE to present the ball. It's a heartbeat, yet the ref decides its a good moment to show he's "tough on a double roll". One minute later we are at the other end and the Rebels score. All these decisions have a bearing on the game, and in that case it was a nonsense decision inconsistent with the rest of the game. And some off the scrum infringements - both ways - made no sense . If you are a professional rugby player you should be able to expect consistency. I would love to see a ref on a panel on one of these weekly shows (one who has retired or is not behoven to World Rugby). Honest appraisal by a ref, and scrutiny on the inconsistencies in refferees each week can only be a good thing. No player is allowed to question anything. Coaches have to tread carefully. Commentators are often too politically correct or have their own biases. How else do we get rightful scrutiny on poor and costly decisions?
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
It is the same for sealing off the ball at a ruck. Teams can do it for 79 min but as soon as they are winding down the clock at the buzzer the ref calls it.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He may well be. After years of being told what a brilliant coach Wessels was, I was sceptical. But the proof is in this pudding that is rising in Melbourne
Pogo
Roar Rookie
…and what has this even got to do with a great game between the reds and rebels. the wallabies lack of success in 2022 was due to many things. It was not due to brumbies giving penalties, as noted they are one of the lowest in the comp and have not had a single yellow or red card in 2023. That says it was the team/coach/systems. It’s a false equivalence….
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Please Filstrup, JP is a 14 and that’s all. He can take the high ball when on the wing. Two games ago, at 15, he didn’t just drop 4 out of 4 high balls, he knocked on each of them. And his defence there is rubbish. He doesn’t talk or organise and has to use his speed to cover his lack of positional awareness. How come neither of us is a Wallaby selector? :laughing:
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Yes TF, the sooner it’s called, the sooner it stops.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day SA. I started reffing in 1972 doing Under 8’s. It was a necessity that you “sift” or the little fellows would get nothing done. In fact, I believe that starting down there made me a better ref, though this does not suit every ref. So, yes, I agree with those sentiments you present. However, with all the scrutiny that the SRP refs are under, including that of their employer and their employer’s directions, plus the perception that the Reds are playing more illegally than any other side, I said to myself that a penalty was going to the Rebels as soon as I saw it happen. And as a ref I’m sure you are aware that you’re never going to please everyone, not even if your name was N Owen. I feel sorry for the modern ref. With society the way it is, one of the first casualties seems to have been respect.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Perfectly summarised short arm
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Haha, or jealousy?!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Completely agree. Nationality should never come into how we interpret objective fact. And yet, the roar stands as a testament to that not being the case. Wrong statements about facts are wrong regardless of nationality too. If you’re referring to Ennors try, he was not offside. But we’ll have to agree to disagree on that, I think.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Yeah let’s see indeed… why we never win anything because of toxic attitudes like this.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Yes it's illegal but is it refereeing the letter of the law or can you ask the officials to let the game flow and call out the offences that impact upon it. The rebels player was never in a position to make the tackle. If anything, the jersey pull brought him back towards defensive hole. Arguably this is all irrelevant as O'Connor would have most likely missed the kick but having self important officials picking up any offense simply because it pleases them is bad for the game. Just ask Mathieu Raynal