Parramatta Eels star Mitch Moses sent official NRL warning over treatment of referee Peter Gough
Parramatta Eels star Mitchell Moses has been sent an official warning letter by the NRL over his on-field antics towards referee Peter Gough in their dramatic golden point loss to the Wests Tigers.
Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses has been sent a warning letter by the NRL about his on-field antics towards match officials.
The NRL is aware Moses touched referee Peter Gough three times during Monday’s high-intensity golden point thriller against Wests Tigers.
NRL management issued Moses with a ‘concerning act notice’ around his general manner and demeanour towards referees throughout the season.
There are also some trepidation at the NRL around the regularity of Moses’ approaching match officials, sometimes slightly aggressively.
The NRL has been monitoring Moses’ constantly questioning around on-field decisions. The letter, issued by the game’s Match Review Committee, is a level below a judiciary charge.
It equates to a severe reprimand.
While none of the three moments where Moses placed his hands on Gough during Monday’s match were deemed aggressive, the NRL maintains a strict “no contract” edict with match officials.
NRL management has warned players could be breached through any form of contact with match officials, whether it be minor, friendly or accidental.
Moses twice handled Gough – on the back and right arm – when Eels centre Sean Russell was concussed after a tackle with Wests Tigers opposite Heamasi Makasini in the 28th minute.
Gough told Moses on-field that Russell “actually rushes out of the line” and “he’s not control himself. There’s a duty of care there not to make high contact (so) it will be penalty against Sean Russell. We have had them in the past like that.”
Moses replied: “I’ve never heard that, head-on-head contact.”
The Eels star then touched Gough’s right arm again as players were leaving the field at halftime.
Multiple players in recent history have been punished for making contact with a match official including Sam McKendry, Dylan Brown, Sam Moa, Heath Mason, William Kennedy, Tyson Frizell, Harry Grant, Steve Matai and Jahrome Hughes.
Moses engaged in several on-field discussions throughout the CommBank Stadium match.
One drama between Moses and Gough occurred in the first half when the Eels playmaker was essentially denied a captain’s challenge when the referee ruled a loose carry, rather than strip, when Eels forwards Jack Williams was in possession.
On-field, Moses said to Gough: “He was held and getting up to play the ball. I want to challenge that.”
Gough replied: “I hadn’t ruled the tackle complete, it’s a lost ball.”
Post-game, Moses said: “(Williams) felt like he was held and had about four players on him so he’s tried to get up and play the ball.
“And then a bloke has come flying in so I asked to challenge it and he (Gough) said he hadn’t called held yet. So there was no point in me challenging it because I was never going to win it. I don’t know.
“He pretty much told me not to challenge it because he told me he hadn’t said held. There was no way I was going to win that. But it’s not why we lost.”
Eels coach Jason Ryles added: “(Referees) have a hard job. They get put in some pretty high pressure situations.”