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Steve Roach | rugbyleaguelive.com | 22/07/08 | 0
VIDEO - Is THIS worth a send-off? You decide...
VIDEO - Badger sent off the wrong bloke: Andrew Moore
Referee's boss Robert Finch should get a tape of Monday night's fiery clash between the Storm and Dragons.
He should make 20 copies, and send one to each of the top referees in our game.
On each tape he should write, in big bold letters...
"How to ruin a great game of football"
It'll be the best lesson he could give them.
Gavin Badger's decision to send-off St George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles is the worst decision I have ever seen.
Think that's big call? You bet it's a big call. Now one more time for emphasis.
In a year when we are meant to be celebrating a century of our great game... that was THE worst decision. Ever.
Before I really get stuck in... let's have a look at the sin-binnings.
22 minutes into an emotional, passionate, fantastic game of rugby league - tempers flared and the boys let off some steam. It's normal. It's healthy. And judging by the roar of support coming from the semi-frozen Melbourne crowd... the game was all the more enjoyable to watch when the heat was cranked up.
When the boys were dragged apart, here's what should have happened.
Nothing.
Sure, penalise the offending team... then get on with it.
I’m sick to death of all the Dudly Do-rights who want first-grade professional league players to act like a pack of park netballers. This isn't marbles. This isn't lawn bowls. This is rugby league!
Can I please remind everyone... this is a collision sport!
Aggression is not only part of the game, it's fundamental to the game. It's what makes our game so exciting to watch, what puts bums on seats and what makes players and supporters so passionate.
Now, Barry Gommersal and I mightn't have exactly seen eye-to-eye in the past... but at least the old boy knew how to referee a game.
If a stink broke out, he'd let it slide.
"Let 'em go at it," he'd call out.
"They'll tire themselves out in a minute."
These modern refs should go back to selling fairy floss. No-one ever got hurt in a stink. To sin-bin three players (including Jamie Soward who barely threw a punch) just about ruined that game.
But the Ryles send-off was the final nail in the coffin.
Here's my question to Robert Finch. If we have the services of the video referee, why could he not step in and tell Badger that it was Jeff Lima who stomped on Ryles' foot.
Why could he not step in and say a penalty was sufficient?
If we have the technology, can't we at least get this right?
C'mon do-gooders. Hit me with your comments. Bag me for being old-fashioned. Tell me the game has changed. But keep this in mind... when the biff broke out, the Olympic Park crowd boo-ed Badger, not the fight.
We've already sterilized our game almost beyond recognition. Loyalty's lost, and if we don't do something now - passion will be too.
This isn't marbles. This isn't lawn bowls. This is rugby league!
Steve 'Blocker' Roach
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