Conspiracy Theory.

[Guest]

Ever since I heard David Gallop say a few years ago (when asked about gettingg rid of the salary cap) that the comprtition has never been closer, I've been convinced that the game is being fixed through the referees,

I don't think it's Robert Finch at all. It's was done through Robert Finch and the refs but it's not his doing. Week after week, month after month we see teams piggybacked to wins. People complain amongst themselves but no one hears them because the NRL keeps saying about refereeing that it's a thankless job, it's a hard job, they're only human etc. They keep making excuses for them because they're under instruction from the NRL. They have to be.

They're takiing us all for mugs. How did Harrigan not see that Gasnier dropped the ball a foot from the ground after 9 replays? How did the touch judge not see that Morris's foot was over the touchline? We all saw it Blind Freddy saw it.

I reckon it's all done in the name of interest in the game for the sake of TV ratings.

I'll be interested to see what happens when news lets go of the game.

[Johnny Tobin]

You came to the right place.

We love a good conspiracy theory in here.

[Guest]

attrition noun /əˈtrɪʃ.ən/ n [U]
• slightly formal gradually making something weaker and destroying it, especially the strength or confidence of an enemy by repeatedly attacking it

[Vasco]

Couldn't agree with you more.

[Guest]

Ever since I heard David Gallop say a few years ago (when asked about gettingg rid of the salary cap) that the comprtition has never been closer, I've been convinced that the game is being fixed through the referees,

I don't think it's Robert Finch at all. It's was done through Robert Finch and the refs but it's not his doing. Week after week, month after month we see teams piggybacked to wins. People complain amongst themselves but no one hears them because the NRL keeps saying about refereeing that it's a thankless job, it's a hard job, they're only human etc. They keep making excuses for them because they're under instruction from the NRL. They have to be.

They're takiing us all for mugs. How did Harrigan not see that Gasnier dropped the ball a foot from the ground after 9 replays? How did the touch judge not see that Morris's foot was over the touchline? We all saw it Blind Freddy saw it.

I reckon it's all done in the name of interest in the game for the sake of TV ratings.

I'll be interested to see what happens when news lets go of the game.

I can back you up,with out looking at a balance sheet,who would the NRL make more money in merchandise rights for winning the grandfinal?Roosters or another joint venture.

[Guest]

People shouldn't do they're footytips on form, they should do them on 'who would the NRL want to win'.

[Vasco]

People shouldn't do they're footytips on form, they should do them on 'who would the NRL want to win'.

It's been like this for a while now.

[Kramer]

Yeah, you only have to look at The Storm to see some dodgy happenings.
The 1999 Grand final when the penalty try was awarded that was a first right there, if it was say a Roosters or Tigers player that was hit it would have been play on. I dont need to go on about the 04' grand final, we all saw it, and this year, mate what can you say?
Oh and the salary cap rorting by the Storm, I bet that bacame public because an ex Strom official was going public on it.

[Johnny Tobin]

Yeah, you only have to look at The Storm to see some dodgy happenings.
The 1999 Grand final when the penalty try was awarded that was a first right there, if it was say a Roosters or Tigers player that was hit it would have been play on. I dont need to go on about the 04' grand final, we all saw it, and this year, mate what can you say?
Oh and the salary cap rorting by the Storm, I bet that bacame public because an ex Strom official was going public on it.

That was a penalty try for sure.

And watch the Broncos v Storm GF from a few years back. The Storm were robbed in that one. It blows your theory to bits.

[Guest]

I support this theory 100%. I don't think it is a conspiracy against the Roosters - just in having certain agendas and giving the flavour of the month a helping hand.

It will be interesting next year. I would think the NRL would want a strong team in Sydney's west and GC to combat AFL. In this light, GC may be a good bet for the Premiership.

I don't think even the NRL will get Parramatta up though. If they do, then the theory is confirmed!

[Guest]

That means all the games we won this year were rigged as well. I feel a bit cheated.

[Vasco]

Gold Coast
Penrith
Parramatta

These three teams will get the "rub of the green" in 2011.

[Guest]

I support this theory 100%. I don't think it is a conspiracy against the Roosters - just in having certain agendas and giving the flavour of the month a helping hand.

It will be interesting next year. I would think the NRL would want a strong team in Sydney's west and GC to combat AFL. In this light, GC may be a good bet for the Premiership.

I don't think even the NRL will get Parramatta up though. If they do, then the theory is confirmed!

so you're saying that, based on whoever's "the flavour of the month", the NRL then give directives to referees and video referees asking that the "flavour of the month" team(s) be given preferential treatment in terms of on field decisions so that they can win more matches?

and you're suggesting that next season, because the NRL want the Gold Coast to do well because there's a new AFL team there, that the referees will be asked by the NRL to be biased towards the GC so that they win more matches?

[Kramer]

That was a penalty try for sure.

And watch the Broncos v Storm GF from a few years back. The Storm were robbed in that one. It blows your theory to bits.

A matter of opinion I guess.

What I'm saying is a penalty try in a Grand Final it has never happened prior to that ocassion I just found it sus. Also the bloke could very well have taken a dive, we will never know.

On the other one, it was the Broncos turn, dont forget they are both New owned clubs.I had never witnessed a club having so much success as the Storm in it's formative years.

[Guest]

so you're saying that, based on whoever's "the flavour of the month", the NRL then give directives to referees and video referees asking that the "flavour of the month" team(s) be given preferential treatment in terms of on field decisions so that they can win more matches?

and you're suggesting that next season, because the NRL want the Gold Coast to do well because there's a new AFL team there, that the referees will be asked by the NRL to be biased towards the GC so that they win more matches?

Pretty much - yes.

I shouldn't have said 'flavour of the month', more 'flavour of the year'.

And I don't think it is limited to refereeing decisions. The planning of the draw, adjudications on salary cap, planning of byes, assessment of rule changes to suit different team styles, judiciary decisions can all be influenced.

There is no question that the competition is closer now than it has ever been. Only a small advantage in any of the areas listed above is enough to see a team make the eight or flounder at the bottom of the table.

To think that sport is different to other aspects of society and immune to unethical behaviour and decisions is laughable. There has always been favouritism in sport and always will be.

I definitely think St George were shown favouritism this year in various aspects of the game.