Ref boss defends try call
NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton insists the right call was made in awarding Souths star Adam Reynolds a crucial try in Sunday’s win over North Queensland, although the Cowboys are convinced hooker Jake Granville was impeded.
Cowboys coach Paul Green was adamant after the 21- 20 loss in Cairns, which ended their finals hopes, that Granville was robbed of a chance to tackle Reynolds after being taken out by Souths forward George Burgess. Granville fell to the ground as he came into contact with lead runner Burgess, with Walker grubbering for himself through a gaping hole to even the scores at 6- 6 after 15 minutes.
But Sutton insists video review officials Jared Maxwell and Luke Patten made the right call by overturning lead referee Matt Cecchin’s original decision of no try.
“Jake Granville makes a defensive decision and initiates the contact on the lead runner,” Sutton told the Towns- ville Bulletin yesterday.
“As a result of Granville making a tackle, and Adam Reynolds catching the ball beyond the lead runner’s outside shoulder, the review official correctly awarded a try.”
Asked if he thought Granville was impeded after the game, Green said: “Yeah, I did. He knocked him over.
“I’m not allowed to comment on refs’ decisions any more. I can’t afford it.”
Green was fined $ 10,000 for criticising officials after a loss in a statement to Melbourne last year.
He didn’t budge from his view on Sunday’s incident when the team returned to Townsville yesterday morning.
“There’s been some calls go against us and I never blame refs … but there’s been some crackers,” Green said.
“You get even half of those and the whole season looks a bit different.
“They’re probably struggling a bit. I don’t think they’ve been real confident in how they’ve managed games all in Townsville year. But I’m sure they’re working at it, it’s been a funny year from that point of view.”
Asked if he would consult Sutton for clarification, Green said: “I haven’t yet but I will.”
The play divided commentators, with some agreeing with the decision to overturn the on- field no- try call because Granville had committed to tackling Burgess.
Nine Network commentator Phil Gould said it was a “brilliant” decision.
“Jake Granville goes in and tackles him. He tackles the bloke without the start,” Gould said.
Greg Alexander slammed the call on Fox Sports.
“Burgess ran straight into him, just took him out,” he said. Granville and Reynolds also found themselves at the centre of late drama in round 11, when the Cowboys were penalised for being off- side attempting to charge down a field goal in round 11.
Reynolds booted an afterthe- siren penalty goal to condemn the shattered Cowboys to a 20- 19 defeat. ball for a