Burton hits out after final fail
SURFERS Paradise playercoach Kris Burton has called for consequences for the Gold Coast District Rugby Union grand final officials after feeling his team got a rough deal in their 24-13 loss to Griffith University Colleges.
Surfers, who won the past two seasons, were irate after having Lachlan Currie, Fred Fiala and Andy Finn all yellow carded at different points.
Burton also indicated the match-winning try to Pila Fifita in the right corner had been awarded despite the Knights winger admitting he was out of play. He also revealed he himself was forced to limp on one leg for much of the final after a late hit went unpunished.
“We probably didn’t do enough in the end to win but I would have liked to play in a game that is actually officiated appropriately,” said the flyhalf, who confirmed he will retire.
“They will have reviews. I will speak to their guy in charge of referees.
“They have got to learn from that, just like our players have got to learn as well. There’s consequences for us but there has to be for them as well.”
Knights coach Graham Herlihy, however, defended referee Nathan Walsh and said the penalties had been a reflection of ill-discipline.
“We learnt. We played them in (Round 20) and it was a 20 to 10 penalty count their way under Nathan,” Herlihy said. “We worked really hard. We got into our boys because they were pretty undisciplined and I thought they (Surfers) were undisciplined this game.
“That was one of our big focuses, not to give them penalties, and it paid dividends.”
The match was the first in four years that Surfers have lost with Burton on the paddock. The 38-year-old said he would not rush a decision on his involvement for next year.