Kearney’s charges will play ball with refs

The new documentary Pre-Season

With The Warriors contains a memorable scene that reinforces the fact the play-the-ball area will be strictly policed by NRL referees this season.

In emphasising the importance of his players needing to execute the basic fundamental skills properly at training, a lazy and rushed attempt at playing the ball from one member of the team quickly earns the wrath of coach Stephen Kearney.

Kearney doesn’t mince his words as he issues a warning to the guilty party and a reminder to the rest of his teammates that their full concentration and best effort is a mandatory requirement in every play — regardless of what stage of the game it is or how fatigued they might be.

“Roll your foot over it again or I’m going to kick you in the f ***** ass,” barks Kearney. “I don’t want to have to tell you again. f **** sakes. That’s when you need it [proper technique] most, when you’re tired.”

The scene was shot before Christmas and preceded an edict from NRL headquarters that the match officials would be paying closer scrutiny to the ruck area after various types of play-the-ball offences went unchecked last season.

True to their word, the crackdown started within the opening minute of the Warriors firstup trial win over Melbourne in Rotorua last Saturday, when hooker Jazz Tevaga was penalised for a sloppy play-the-ball.

The call may have been harsh as Tevaga was trying to untangle himself from a defender but the penalty made clear the need to play the ball properly.

By the end of the match, 19 penalties had been blown with many going against the team in possession as the match officials drew a line in the sand before the premiership gets underway on March 8.

“It’s a pet hate of mine anyway,” explained Kearney when asked about the scene and the flurry of penalties in the 20-14 victory over the Storm’s second-stringers.

“It’s just a lazy action. It’s funny how that one sort of panned out.

“There was a directive that they were going to look at the play-theball but sometimes when they send out those directives there’s not really much of a follow-through on it.

Kearney is waiting to see whether the referees pay equal attention to ensuring the markers are square at the play the ball.