Round 23 was a controversial one, generating criticism over send-off calls and dubious tries. If the legendary Rex Mossop was still with us, he’d be all over it.
Send Off Fiasco
The first three games of Round 23 saw a send-off epidemic infect the NRL, a craze which would result in players from the Roosters and Titans, and even a trainer from the Melbourne Storm, marched from the field.
The first send off featured former Parramatta forward Nathan Brown. Nathan was sent off in the 62nd minute of the Roosters’ clash with the Manly Sea Eagles for a careless high tackle on Ben Trbojevic. Not only did bunker officials find that Brown’s shoulder made reckless contact with Trbojevic’s head, they also determined that his feet left the ground, as if intentionally jumping to hit the Manly youngster with force.
Brown is marched
Queensland forward and Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika was dismissed from the field for a high shot in the opening minutes of his side’s battle with the Top-Four placed Warriors. The Titans managed to keep the game tight for the majority of the contest, a result none would have expected. Without the send off, I believe a Titans victory was imminent.
The strangest thing about these send offs, was that they resulted in one week suspensions for both players.
Tackles that have been ruled “high” in games, and resulted in players being placed “on report” or sent to the Sin Bin, have received more significant suspensions. Maika Sivo and Valentine Holmes were two of the latest to be sentenced in this manner, with Sivo’s being put “on report”, and Holmes’ sent to the bin.
Both Holmes and Sivo received 3 week suspensions (not including the extra week for failing in their “not-Guilty” pleas). This raises questions about the on-field inconsistency involving decisions surrounding similar incidents. Some players are being placed on report whereas others are sent from the field forcing their team to play with a man down for all or part of the game.
Finally, in the Storm’s clash with Penrith, Melbourne Trainer Ryan Hinchcliffe was ordered from the field by referee Adam Gee, being told to “stop talking and leave”. Trainers taking up residence on-field and “coaching” their players have been the source of controversy over the last few seasons. Perhaps match officials have finally had enough.
Carty’s Milestone, Brown’s Return and Artie’s Debut
It was another mixed bag in Parradise, as the Eels fought back to triumph 26-20 over the Dragons in a contest featuring a plethora of contentious calls and even a share of non-calls.
Controversy aside, a highlight from this game was Bryce Cartwright running out for the 50th time in the Blue and Gold. The in form edge forward made the most of his time out on the field, reminding players, staff and fans just why he deserves a starting role in such an experienced side.
Cartwright ran for 158 metres with 8 tackle breaks, and put the icing on the cake by scoring two tries in his milestone game. Cartwright’s fluidity and unpredictability in attack was key to a Blue and Gold victory, and his spike in form is proving popular with the Parramatta faithful.
In the same clash, rising young fullback Arthur Miller-Stephen made his NRL debut. A shining light in an underwhelming Eels NSW Cup team, Artie had been called up to BA’s 17 man squad to fill the void left by a suspended Maika Sivo.
Artie scores on debut
Miller-Stephen had a debut to remember, scoring the Eels first try, courtesy of a Bailey Simonsson assist. His match later took an interesting turn, with BA switching him to the right wing following three first half tries to Mikaele Ravalawa. The powerhouse Dragons winger still crossed for another try against Sean Russell in what was one of his most dominant performances.
Finally, this game also saw the crucial return of Dylan Brown.
After spending seven weeks on the sideline for his highly publicised off-field incident, Brown is seen as the player to correct Parra’s flawed left edge which has conceded 40% of their opponents’ tries.
Ryan Papenhuyzen returns to Footy
All eyes were on the Q Cup on Saturday with Ryan Papenhuyzen making his much anticipated return to the football field.
The popular Storm fullback had been sidelined for almost 400 days with a knee injury, NRL fans across all 17 teams were happy to see his return to what he does best. Playing for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Papenhuyzen registered a line break, a try assist and kicked two conversions in his teams 24-10 victory over the Ipswich Jets.
Post-game, Papenhuyzen was swarmed by local fans keen to congratulate and encourage him. His potential return to the NRL could prove instrumental in Melbourne’s premiership campaign.
Forward Pass?
The Raiders and Tigers clash was yet another to feature questionable decisions, with the Tigers on the losing end of some officiating oversights.
Most notable was the forward pass from Raiders 5/8 Jack Wighton which led to a key Canberra try. Only four points separated the teams at the final siren, and the error was publicly acknowledged by Graham Annesley.
The sideline official was perfectly positioned
It was difficult to understand how such a blatantly forward pass was missed by all officials, including a perfectly positioned touch judge.
The missed call robbed Tigers fans of celebrating what would have been a rare victory in 2023. Blunders such as this are significant and can change the momentum if not the outcome of a match.
NRL fans deserve better.
Nat
I think the biggest controversy was luau’s shoulder into the head of his opponent. It was an absolute shocker and deserving of 3 – 4 weeks suspension. No 10 minutes and a $3000 fine. WTF. It’s looking like the Panthers are getting preferential treatment. And it has had little to no press.
That’s unusual for them to get preferential treatment!
Matterson would have taken the 3/4 weeks
Extremely strange, thought he would see a couple weeks on the sideline for that. God forbid it was a player on another team…
Had enough of refs filling in as touchies. They think they are refs of that particular game. All their running infield to yell to players, Clearly they are not schooled in being specialist touchies. Never ever seen so many mistakes in missing forward passes from touchies as we see today. I recall PVL saying “how good is this” in having a ref in the middle and 2 refs on the sidelines. It’s become laughable but is sad.
So true
Some Eels fans highly critical of our R&R team. Spare a thought for Manly fans.
Schuster on $800,000 a year.
I’d have to agree, I think parra do a great job compared to clubs like that. Also consider they have Cooper Johns, Jake Arthur, Josh Schuster, DCE and Luke Brooks, and only 2 halves spots. What do they do?
The send offs and sin bins are ruining the games. Send offs should only be for extreme cases. On the weekend it likely cost the Titans a win.
When the Eels had two players sent from the field against the Roosters. There was every likelihood that it cost us a victory.
Not that we get any consistency out of the MRC but at least the teams get to play a competitive game on the day.
I also believe that the bunker official is a unique position. A select group of referees should be cycled through the bunker.
Full time Bunker officials will become specialists and that should lead to better consistency.
Its crazy because the send offs should be used for something serious, however both players that were sent only received 1 week suspensions. Sivo and Holmes were only put on report + in the bin, and received base level 3 weeks.
Sending players off is trying to do the MRC’s job on the spot in 60 seconds.
Penalise them, put them on report and maybe even 10 in the bin. But don’t send them off unless it is blatantly obvious
Let the judiciary deal with it Monday. Of course the downside is the team effected by the foul play do not receive any benefit.
No different to the RCG incident with Haas. RCG lost seven or eight games due to injury. Penalty only to the Eels.
i remember there was talk of putting a GPS chip in the ball to detect forward passes they were even going to test it out in trial games then the whole thing was scrapped why?
It would be a nightmare because we’d see how often it happens!