NRL backs Benny’s right to meet refs’ boss

NRL head of football Graham Annesley has responded to Ivan Cleary’s stunning postmatch rant, shooting down Cleary’s accusation that Wayne Bennett had got away with manipulating the refs with his pre-match comments.

Annesley was adamant: “I think they (the refs) are completely above it.”

This came after Clearly claimed in the fiery aftermath of Penrith’s shock defeat to South Sydney that the “NRL has got to make a decision on whether they’re going to allow coaches to deliberately manipulate referees”.

Bennett accused Cleary of igniting the pre-match war of words by “mouthing off” to the media in a story where he called for the match officials to protect his son Nathan from what he feared might be an illegal South Sydney ambush.

Annesley said he had no issue with Bennett meeting with referees’ boss Jared Maxwell to discuss what Bennett later claimed were illegal blocking tactics the Panthers had been using to stop legal kick-pressure on Nathan.

“That has been our system for as long as I have been involved in the game,” Annesley explained.

“And all coaches do that.

“If we want to change the system then that is something that would have to be discussed in the off-season.”

Asked if he feared coaches were getting away with manipulating the match officials, Annesley defended the game’s integrity: “I have no idea what coaches are attempting to do.

“All I know is that the referees just go out and referee.

“Referees referee based on what happens on the field.”