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Braith Anasta issues warning on poor decisions in run to the finals
* Margie McDonald, Stuart Honeysett
* From: The Australian
* July 20, 2010 12:00AM
BRAITH Anasta has issued a warning that refereeing errors could cost a team a place in the finals.
With seven rounds remaining, just four points separate seven top eight hopefuls.
That has Anasta and many senior players concerned about a recent spate of poor refereeing decisions.
Anasta had a heated exchange with whistleblower Gavin Badger in Sunday's match against Canterbury and Souths coach John Lang lashed out at the referees after seeing his side lose to St George Illawarra on Friday night.
"It's such a tight competition at the moment," Anasta said.
"We're all doing our jobs, so it's important the referees do theirs. A couple of losses and you're out of the running."
Anasta acknowledged the role of a referee was not an easy one, although recent mistakes had been made by very experienced whistleblowers.
"Coming into the big games they've got to get the big, the tough, decisions right," Anasta said.
NRL referees coach Robert Finch rejected the suggestion that match officials could determine the fate of a club's season.
"There are 24 games that adjudicate whether you make the semis -- not one," Finch said.
"All of these statements have been trotted out for years on end and this is no different than any other at this time of the season when coaches and referees are under pressure."
Anasta had a running battle with Badger during Sunday's win over Canterbury and felt his side had been on the receiving end of several poor decisions.
They included play being called back for a forward pass from Anasta after Joseph Leilua had made a break and another try being disallowed after the Roosters lock was ruled to have knocked-on in the lead-up.
Finch was happy with the standard of officiating in Sunday's game and said the only questionable call had been the forward pass against Anasta. That call was made by former NRL player turned match official Henry Perenara.
"Everyone's complaining and whingeing because they want more footballers involved -- well it was a footballer who called it," Finch said.
"I don't think that was forward and we've gone over that with him today and he's acknowledged that."
Anasta did not take a backward step yesterday when asked to reflect on his running battle with Badger.
"It was tough. As a captain you've got to give respect to the referees week in, week out, but it's frustrating when you get some bad calls you feel aren't right," he said.
"But it's happening to a lot of teams at the moment.
"There's not much you can do about it -- you just hope it improves."
He agreed with Souths skipper Roy Asotasi that there appeared to be little point in trying to argue with referees.
"Once the decision is made, it's made. But you hope as the game goes on they get it right.
"When it keeps happening, it is frustrating."
Anasta chalked up his 200th NRL game on Sunday and admitted the anger at some decisions nearly got the better of him against Canterbury.
Finch also rejected calls from Souths chief executive Shane Richardson to scrap the dual referee system and revert to one official controlling the match.
"I've got no idea if it's going to be reviewed or not, but let me tell you, two referees is a must in the modern game," Finch said.
"The value it's added to our game . . . the rucks are cleaner than they've ever been. If you want to go back to grappling and wrestling and massive fatigue levels on referees, go back to one referee.
"But I've got all the stats to form my opinion that two referees is a massive bonus to our game."
fuk you finch you pig, just shows he has it out for us. the irony of this is that he is whinging himself..
* Margie McDonald, Stuart Honeysett
* From: The Australian
* July 20, 2010 12:00AM
BRAITH Anasta has issued a warning that refereeing errors could cost a team a place in the finals.
With seven rounds remaining, just four points separate seven top eight hopefuls.
That has Anasta and many senior players concerned about a recent spate of poor refereeing decisions.
Anasta had a heated exchange with whistleblower Gavin Badger in Sunday's match against Canterbury and Souths coach John Lang lashed out at the referees after seeing his side lose to St George Illawarra on Friday night.
"It's such a tight competition at the moment," Anasta said.
"We're all doing our jobs, so it's important the referees do theirs. A couple of losses and you're out of the running."
Anasta acknowledged the role of a referee was not an easy one, although recent mistakes had been made by very experienced whistleblowers.
"Coming into the big games they've got to get the big, the tough, decisions right," Anasta said.
NRL referees coach Robert Finch rejected the suggestion that match officials could determine the fate of a club's season.
"There are 24 games that adjudicate whether you make the semis -- not one," Finch said.
"All of these statements have been trotted out for years on end and this is no different than any other at this time of the season when coaches and referees are under pressure."
Anasta had a running battle with Badger during Sunday's win over Canterbury and felt his side had been on the receiving end of several poor decisions.
They included play being called back for a forward pass from Anasta after Joseph Leilua had made a break and another try being disallowed after the Roosters lock was ruled to have knocked-on in the lead-up.
Finch was happy with the standard of officiating in Sunday's game and said the only questionable call had been the forward pass against Anasta. That call was made by former NRL player turned match official Henry Perenara.
"Everyone's complaining and whingeing because they want more footballers involved -- well it was a footballer who called it," Finch said.
"I don't think that was forward and we've gone over that with him today and he's acknowledged that."
Anasta did not take a backward step yesterday when asked to reflect on his running battle with Badger.
"It was tough. As a captain you've got to give respect to the referees week in, week out, but it's frustrating when you get some bad calls you feel aren't right," he said.
"But it's happening to a lot of teams at the moment.
"There's not much you can do about it -- you just hope it improves."
He agreed with Souths skipper Roy Asotasi that there appeared to be little point in trying to argue with referees.
"Once the decision is made, it's made. But you hope as the game goes on they get it right.
"When it keeps happening, it is frustrating."
Anasta chalked up his 200th NRL game on Sunday and admitted the anger at some decisions nearly got the better of him against Canterbury.
Finch also rejected calls from Souths chief executive Shane Richardson to scrap the dual referee system and revert to one official controlling the match.
"I've got no idea if it's going to be reviewed or not, but let me tell you, two referees is a must in the modern game," Finch said.
"The value it's added to our game . . . the rucks are cleaner than they've ever been. If you want to go back to grappling and wrestling and massive fatigue levels on referees, go back to one referee.
"But I've got all the stats to form my opinion that two referees is a massive bonus to our game."
fuk you finch you pig, just shows he has it out for us. the irony of this is that he is whinging himself..
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