Sebastian Tan
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has lambasted the NRL’s officiating, saying he’s never been so confused about the rules after controversial calls overshadowed the Dolphins 30-22 victory against Canberra.
In a fiery two-minute press conference, where Stuart didn’t answer any questions, the coach took aim at the referees and bunker after a series of 50/50 calls fell the visitors’ way on Thursday night at GIO Stadium.
Most significantly, a second-half call where Joe Tapine and Morgan Smithies made a big tackle on Ray Stone was ruled a penalty by Todd Smith, with the referee saying Smithies made “unnecessary contact” with his elbow.
The Canberra faithful erupted in boos as Jamayne Isaako slotted a crucial penalty goal before doubling down in heckling the officials as they walked off the field after the full-time whistle.
“The game has interpretations and rules, and we’re in a position at the moment where we’re picking and choosing when we apply them, and it’s a very frustrating situation for those who are involved,” Stuart said.
“In all the years I’ve been involved in the game as a coach, I’ve never been so confused. It’s disappointing, to say the least, but I’m just so confused at the moment.
“You can’t have a rule and apply it one week and not the next week … it’s disappointing because I love the game.”
It wasn’t just the contentious calls that made the difference on the night though, as Canberra’s ill-discipline, most notably two dropped balls by winger Savelio Tamale, led to two costly first-half Dolphins tries.
Regardless, the visitors’ coach Kristian Woolf was elated his side held tough, praising their rigid defence and mentality as they picked up a fourth-straight win for the first time in club history.
“There’s always 50/50 calls. There’s always things that you feel go against you,” he said.
“There are a couple in the second half there that I thought probably had gone our way that made a bit of a difference, but that’s every game.
“It doesn’t stop you from scoring tries … I’m just happy that we got the win.”
The gritty victory came as the Dolphins were without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler and Max Plath because of State of Origin duties, while star centre Herbie Farnworth (hamstring tightness) and five-eighth Kodi Nikorima (hamstring) were also missing.
The Raiders scored first through Jed Stuart, but Tamale dropped Isaiya Katoa’s booming kick, and the visitors capitalised through Cobbo’s replacement, Tevita Naufahu.
Canberra hit back when Ethan Sanders sent up a kick, and it took an awkward bounce, then hit the crossbar into Corey Horsburgh’s hands for a try.
But the visitors scored the next three through Morgan Knowles, Isaako, and Stone before Tamale crossed right before the break to reduce the deficit to 22-16 at halftime.
After Isaako’s penalty goal, Zac Hosking pounced on a Laurie grubber in the 65th minute before Schneider wrestled through Canberra’s fatigued defence to seal the victory.
AAP
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