Break the rules, cop penalty: Annesley
IF you want to roll the dice and break the rules, you will be punished.
That is the emphatic message from NRL head of football Graham Annesley after some teams attempted to slow down the play-the-ball process over the weekend.
The Good Friday clash between South Sydney and Canterbury was marred by the Bulldogs’ slowing down the ruck tactics.
There were 20 penalties awarded, prompting Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett to criticise the officials for failing to penalise the Bulldogs.
Adding to Bennett’s frustration, when Souths were in possession they had 56 playthe-balls that lasted beyond four seconds.
Annesley conceded the play-the-balls during the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs match were beyond the acceptable range but he dismissed Bennett’s belief that slowing down the ruck was a game-wide problem.
He also reinforced the referees will penalise teams that deliberately try to break the rules to gain an advantage.
“Wayne said referees should referee what is front of them – well that is exactly what we’ve said since day one,” Annesley said.