Updated ,first published
Parramatta captain Mitchell Moses has been cautioned by the NRL over a running battle with referee Peter Gough during the Easter Monday blockbuster against Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium.
Moses drew the attention of league officials after approaching the whistle-blower to contest decisions on multiple occasions in the Eels’ 22-20 defeat and even laying a hand on Gough’s arm and back.
Moses was issued with a concerning acts notice, which is a level below a player receiving a charge. The formal warning was not because Moses had touched the referee, which was regarded as incidental, but for the manner and frequency with which he approached Gough on Monday.
The NRL had sent a note to coaches after round two of the competition, warning them about players disputing decisions with referees.
Moses protested a series of calls during the sold-out clash with the Tigers including after a collision between Sean Russell and Tigers youngster Heamasi Makasini that left the Eels centre knocked unconscious but for which Parramatta were penalised, with Gough ruling Russell had rushed out of the line.
He also made a beeline for the referee after Tigers fullback Jahream Bula scored a first-half try which took them to an 18-10 lead at the break, arguing the Eels’ opponents had gained possession of the ball with a strip.
In a third incident, Moses was denied the opportunity to mount a captain’s challenge after forward Jack Williams was brought down close to the line and lost the ball as he went to play it.
“[Williams] felt like he was held and had about four players on him, so he’s trying to get up and play the ball. So I asked to challenge it, then [Gough] said that he hadn’t called held yet, so there was no point in me challenging it because I was never going to win it,” Moses said after the game.
The NRL considered Moses’ approaches to be slightly aggressive in nature. While the physical contact between Moses and Gough was minor, players touching referees has always been considered a no-no.
There was a more serious case in English soccer on the weekend when Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli shoved referee Sam Barrott during their FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton, although he escaped with just a yellow card.
Xerri to return from Bulldogs exile against Panthers
Billie Eder
Bronson Xerri will return for Canterbury against the Panthers on Thursday night following a stint in NSW Cup after his unfavourable reaction to being shifted to right centre by coach Cameron Ciraldo.
Xerri will play in his favoured left centre position after Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton suffered a shoulder injury in the loss to South Sydney on Good Friday.
The 25-year-old was named on the bench against the Rabbitohs and many expected him to be brought on to replace the injured Crichton.
But Canterbury supremo Phil Gould revealed Ciraldo had decided instead to inject Sean O’Sullivan because he believed Crichton would be able to return.
“What happened was, Crichton goes down. The medical team goes on to assess the injury. It came back that Crichton will be back in five to 10 minutes,” Gould said on 100% Footy on Monday night.
“They’re going to go in a needle it, and try and get him back on the field, which [with] AC injuries you can do. So, they thought he was coming back.”
Ciraldo sent on O’Sullivan thinking he could eventually give Bailey Hayward a break at hooker, before it was determined Crichton wouldn’t be able to return. When that information came through, the Bulldogs had exhausted their interchanges.
“Five minutes later, the message comes that Critta’s not coming back, and he’s already made the replacement,” Gould explained.
On Thursday, Xerri will line up against Paul Alamoti, who said he expected the Bulldogs centre to be out to prove a point.
“A lot of fire, a lot of energy, rightfully so [with] the position that he’s been in,” Alamoti said. “That’s what I am expecting – someone who’ll be hungry on the field, be in every single play, and he won’t miss a beat, that’s for sure.”
On the opposite side of the field, Blaize Talagi will go head-to-head with his former Westfield Sports High teammate Lachlan Galvin.
“It’s been pretty cool seeing me and Galvin coming through the ranks, and to be able to verse now, it’s pretty cool,” he said. “Lachie is a very talented player and obviously, we want to get the win over him, so that should be good.”
In Friday night’s Queensland derby between Brisbane and North Queensland, Jesse Arthars will start at fullback for the Broncos with Reece Walsh ruled out for up to six weeks due to a fractured cheekbone, while Blake Mozer is given the No.14 jersey to replace the injured Ben Hunt.
Spencer Leniu will make his long-awaited return for the Roosters against Cronulla in Perth on Saturday after suffering a hamstring strain during the warm-up ahead of the round one clash against the Warriors. Victor Radley will play his first game of the season, after the club imposed a 10-week ban for allegedly attempting to purchase a dangerous drug with the help of former teammate Brandon Smith last year.
Reece Walsh may be out for six weeks. Bennett has his Origin replacement
Christian Nicolussi
Broncos star Reece Walsh is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone, and should he fail to be fit in time for Origin I, Wayne Bennett is backing Jye Gray to perform strongly if handed a Queensland jersey.
Broncos officials confirmed on Sunday morning that Walsh would undergo surgery after suffering the injury in the win over the Gold Coast on Saturday night. The news got worse for the premiers with Ben Hunt ruled out for a similar timeframe with an MCL injury.
Billy Slater will pick his first Maroons’ team for the May 27 opener in six weeks, around the same time Walsh is expected to return.
Kalyn Ponga is already out with a hamstring injury, and while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has played fullback for Queensland, and would be the logical next choice, Gray has been in irresistible form for Souths.
At the very least, Gray and his blistering speed make him a genuine Maroons bench option.
“Of course he’s up to it, he’s playing at a high level every week in the NRL; if you can play at the level he can play at in the NRL, he can certainly play Origin,” Bennett said.
“Origin is an extension of what they already do; they just have to be a bit quicker and skilful. But Jye answers that question every week. He’s up to it if he was chosen.”
While Slater is spoiled for choice with fullbacks, so is his NSW counterpart, Laurie Daley, when it comes to his options in the centres.
Casey McLean, still only 19, is doing everything he can to put himself in the frame with some outstanding performances for Penrith.
Daley had such a high opinion of McLean that he picked up the phone last year to see if he was keen to play for the Blues if the NRL changed the international eligibility rules, which they have since done.
He told this masthead last month about McLean: “I like his defence, I like the way he carries the ball strongly, and while he’s only young, he’s not overawed by anything – I think he’s a wonderful player.”
McLean has improved further since then, including an excellent individual try where he palmed off Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes – twice – and showed speed to zoom into a gap before sending Tom Jenkins over for a first try on Friday night.
McLean was a standout for New Zealand at the end of last year, but is just as keen to represent the state in which he grew up.
Latrell Mitchell is the incumbent and also in sizzling form for South Sydney, but another centre option, Stephen Crichton, is now nursing a shoulder injury. Crichton is yet to undergo scans, but is expected to be out of play for up to a month with an AC joint injury.
McLean pointed out he was just as comfortable playing right centre and on the wing.
“I wanted to represent my family and where I come from,” said McLean, when he first chose New Zealand ahead of NSW. “That’s a big factor I’ve been playing this game as long as I have been.
“I wanted to put on the black jersey and represent where my parents [Shannon and Willie] come from as a way of giving back to them. If the opportunity comes [to play for NSW], I’d take it with both hands.”
Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.
Billie Eder is a sports reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.