Wayne Bennett fires back at NRL bunker critic Michael Maguire
AAP
April 27, 2017 9:10am
IN A swipe at rival Michael Maguire, Wayne Bennett wants critics to stop their “ridiculous” whining and accept that the NRL bunker will never be perfect.
Livid South Sydney coach Maguire this week demanded answers from the NRL after referees boss Tony Archer admitted Brisbane centre Tautau Moga’s try in the Broncos’ controversial one-point last round win over the Rabbitohs should not have been awarded.
Broncos coach Bennett’s message to bunker bashers ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Penrith was simple — get over it.
The seven-time premiership-winning coach backed the multi-million dollar bunker system, despite claiming another mistake would be made this round. “It will happen to someone else next week,” he said.
“But the technology is there, they do a great job and it’s much improved this year.
“They are making more decisions on the field, the bunker has been good.
“But it will never, ever be perfect. We will always get something wrong.
“But we are minimising what we are getting wrong.”
Maguire was fuming after two controversial decisions in their last round loss.
Besides Moga’s bizarre 69th minute try, which levelled the scores, Maguire was furious over the “ridiculous” call to award Brisbane pivot Anthony Milford’s late matchwinning field goal.
Maguire believed Milford had knocked on before kicking the decisive one-pointer, but Bennett was unmoved.
“I just think it is ridiculous the way we all overreact to all of it,: he said. “It’s the nature of the game. It’s not going to stop because everyone carries on about it.
“We all get the bad decisions. But do you get a bad call and carry on like a spoiled brat — is that what we teach our kids?” Bennett said he could empathise with Maguire but said there was no use complaining.
“Of course you would be disappointed (if Maguire) but you just have to live with it,” he said.
“We make less mistakes than we have ever made with regards to officials. “Our best players make mistakes. You’ve got to assume their best referees make mistakes — that’s what happens in sport.
“The best ones make less mistakes but they do make them.”
