Cameron Smith in hot water for questioning the officials' integrity in massive spray

As opposed to the first half 5 to 1 penalties to the Storm. Two head highs , three forward passes and a partridge in a pear tree..

That is Cam Smith 101. He didn't step over the line, but was able to put doubt into the ref about the penalty count. They can debate whether Smith is the greatest player of all time, but there can be no argument that he is the greatest captain of all time. And you can probably roll in all-comers in all Aussie team sports.

I hear there has been a complaint made to the commission about this. He has challenged the integrity of the ref and the game. A 28 week suspension has been called for. Submitted by H Grant.

Cheers Crispy ! Yep. I wasn't sure last week just whether it felt like 1990 or 1991 over again ? At least I got that one sorted out ! :silly:

Commiserations Albo but with 17 straight, finishing minor premiers, and having the best defensive squad of 2020 (second best attacking team), I'd say the Panthers had a sensational season mate! The Penrith area must be very proud of the boys! :thumbup:

Really we're still trying to find ways to whine about Smithy winning. He's talking to the ref and asking some questions in the heat of a GF battle with a growing number of calls against his team. It's called being a Captain. I think both sin bin calls were at the upper end of harsh considering it was a Grand final but not entirely unfair. Nit picking in a final is questionable officiating and I don't think Cameron was far off in his comments in the last 15mins especially after the Bunker allowed the Panthers first try.

Apologies 1 extra penalty each between 53rd and 63 minute that wasnt included in Fox replay but Roar participants complaining about unchecked Penrith forward passes in that time

From 53 rd minute Penrith received 5 penalties, a marginal forward pass call, 2 Storm sin bins, a try neither commentary team thought was a try due to obstruction and 2 set restarts - the only call Storm received was a set restart at 63 minute in return. As Gould would say "Wow"

My mistake . Your right.

Spot on Jimmmy ! The Panthers blew their opportunity with 18 errors on the night. No team can do that and expect to beat the Storm , the team we have always struggled with, even playing at our best ! The Panthers have still had a good season and they have plenty to build on next year.

Bad luck Albo. I really wanted a Panthers win . They still had a wonderful season. The 5 to 1 count was ridiculous . Sutton Reffed one side in the first half but the 'square up' in the second was just as bad. The bounce of the ball went against you guys last night as well but on balance I thought the final result was right. The Cleary pass to Suli was the coffin nail and it seemed as if Penrith were frantically chasing points when really they had oodles of time and would have been much better to just roll it into the in goal. Anyway, good days to be a Panther mate.!

Yep ! No whinging about the 5-1 penalty count to the Storm in the first half of the GF ?

Yes a knock on in NRL is when someone drops the ball - unfortunately the rules dont say that - in fact in NZRL and RU in the 80s a ball dropped straight down is not a KO because it doesnt go forward (as the rule states) but that interpretation is out the window. Another reason why NRL is now much like violent touch football.

personally, if Sutton is the best on offer then the game is in deep trouble. He ruined the game with pedantic nit picking and not allowing the game to flow, it was awful refereeing and the frustration was getting the better of both teams. Valandy's needs to stop tinkering with the rules and get the referees actually trained better to the real rules not the made up ones. We do these fan poll quiz things but they never ask the hard questions like do you think we should go back to propper scrums or do you think we should have a clear ruck before the ball can be played or even do you think the marker should be able to strike for the ball. How about do you think we should actually teach the referees what an actual knock on is? I reckoned Sutton spoilt what could have been a truly spectacular and memorable grand final, not only were the players frustrated but I know this particular observer was and I follow neither team and was hoping for far better that what I got last night.

So which was wrong. ? Letting it go or penalizing it. ? The problem we have is not enforcing the blooming rules. I think Sutton tried to even up the game for sure. But he had made it uneven in the first place. Incredible luck that the final result was about right but that's not the way to get the 'right result.'

Joe, definitely piggy backed up the field, stuff let go earlier was suddenly somehow penalty-worthy.

Its worse now coz there are national games and plenty of competition, remotes etc and putting the score on the screen in 96? means use of the remote is now widespread. Eg I was watching NFL this morning and 49ers leapt away from Patriots so I went and did something else. The rusted ons will watch but the neutrals will wander.

The match was against Raiders in Penrith but cant disagree with him noe Cleary on that night. But this is nothing new

Heat of the moment stuff and I think that was after the Panthers got penalties in the first sets after kickoff to get them down to Storm territory...just seemed all the decisions were going one way at that stage. At worst a fine.

I totally agree with Cameron Smith and the NRL better wake up as the FANS all know it! This Sutton sin bin was a very poor excuse and a blatant “Square Up” and to make the game interesting! This is “the usual thing and part of the course” that has been happening for many decades, there are many examples but I’ll just give you ONE that I’ve experienced personally with “Greg Hartley who was very well known for that” when he was reefing not only the games that I played in the Easts junior league comp but when he was graded in 1971 and continued his shenanigans as by 1975 he was officiating in the first-grade semi-finals??? :laughing: