NRL boss slams losing coaches for pointing finger at refs
FED- UP NRL boss Todd Greenberg has declared the game “needs to grow up” and coaches of losing teams must stop blaming refereeing decisions, adamant the constant criticism is driving potential officials away from the game.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan slammed the officiating in his team’s 15- 14 extra- time finals loss to the Cowboys on Sunday as “disgraceful”.
The Cronulla mentor hijacked the start of the postgame press conference by reeling off several decisions which went against his side that he believed referees Ashley Klein and Gavin Badger got wrong. Flanagan’s outburst came a day after Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett teed off at officials after his team’s season ended with a loss to Penrith.
Greenberg confirmed Cronulla and Manly would both receive breach notices from the NRL this week.
A frustrated Greenberg fronted the media yesterday, urging coaches to stop treating referees as scapegoats for their team’s failures.
“We’re very fortunate to have a sporting contest as even as this and yet in a fantastic round of finals it’s been marred by the response of some of the losing teams,” Greenberg said.
“Unfortunately we’ve developed a culture in our game of blaming match officials for a loss. It sets a terrible exam- ple to fans, and a terrible example to grassroots, and it’s got to stop. It’s time for the game to grow up.
“The Cowboys have been decimated by injury all year, but are still alive in week two.
“The performance of ( Jason) Taumalolo, the composure of Michael Morgan, nothing short of phenomenal.
“I’m not saying referees are perfect, they never have been and they never will be. I’m not saying they will get every call right but I have reviewed the games, and I can tell you the majority of the calls were spot on.”
The Sharks made 18 errors against the Cowboys, and Greenberg said coaches should look in their own backyard before blaming refs.
“Players make mistakes too, and that’s what costs games. That’s why teams lose, it’s not the referees, and that culture has to change,” he said. “We have to grow up and we have to take responsibility for our own outcomes.
“Our coaches have a responsibility to the game, as well as a responsibility to their clubs. The emotion of your season ending is not an excuse. What I saw ( on Sun- day) is not on, and we can’t allow that to happen.
“I’ve said this regularly, I don’t want a day to come around where the kids run out, and they can’t play because there’s no one in the middle with the whistle.
“I don’t have a lot of people lining up outside our office to work in match officials, it’s a tough part of the industry.”
Cowboys coach Paul Green wasn’t about to be drawn into Flanagan’s comments.
“I’m not buying into any of that, we’re moving on to Parra ( in next week’s semi finals) now,” Green said yesterday.
“There’s probably some things there I would like to talk to ( referees boss Tony Archer) about through the week also, that ( decisions) is part and parcel of the game.”