Grapple
First Grade
- Messages
- 5,194
No, plenty seem to be suggesting that Cowboys were robbed of the game and their season. I think although the foran try was disgraceful the football been played for 70 minutes of the match shows Manly were the better side.
The same QLD fans in here that argued 'oh but take away the Inglis dodge try and QLD still lead by 2 and were the better side' are the same fans in here arguing 'Oh Cowboys were robbed' when only ONE try was a bad decision and outside that Manly were the better side and scored mroe legitimate points.
The refs are shithouse, no doubt. Everyone has been saying it all year. But it's highly unfair to Manly to suggest they won the game off the back of the refs. Refs ruined the game, refs are shithouse - fair game. Cowboys were robbed, manly were gifted - not fair game.
They were robbed, I agree.
I'll admit in the past I argued against the fact Pritchard's obstruction cost the Tigers the game, purely because they evened up the game and had more chances than Canterbury in extra time to win it and if anything it spurred them on towards extra time....BUT...I think this is somewhat different.
The simple fact is this was a knockout game. So any bad calls - especially ones that directly relate to a try - are going to have a greater impact than a regular season game. Not to mention the fact that it was clear to EVERYONE but the video ref that it touched Foran's hand. Inexcusable.
You're also arguing on the basis of the final result - one that included some of the worst calls in the season. But what if the calls were ruled correctly?
Teams play completely different on emotion and momentum. You could see it in the desperation of the Cowboys at the end. Nobody can say for sure Manly or Cowboys would've played better if the game had a competent video ref, but at the very least they would be given the same chance to compete, and that's pretty much what any team deserves at the end of the season, hence why people are saying they were "robbed".
I mean, I don't really care for these teams. But no team should bow out of their season in a rubbish game like that after playing for so long to get that chance. It's just the icing on the cake of an unbelievably poor season with officials. Pretty much has me turning off games now.