Gerard Sutton demoted and Gavin Badger dumped following finals refereeing debacle

[coolumsharkie]

THE NRL has finally acted on mistake-ridden referee Gerard Sutton by relegating him to a support role for this weekend’s finals.

And his partner in last Friday night’s refereeing debacle at Suncorp Stadium, Gavin Badger, has been dumped all together.

Sutton has been appointed to a support role as a second-in-charge pocket referee for the Raiders v Panthers semi-final in Canberra on Saturday.

NRL referees boss Tony Archer confirmed the appointments on Tuesday afternoon.

“Following a detailed review of all matches from week one of the finals, the two lead referees for week two matches will be Matt Cecchin and Ben Cummins,” he said.

“It is my view that they were the best performing referees from last weekend.

“Gerard Sutton and Alan Shortall will be the assist referees.”

Gerard Sutton has been relegated to pocket referee. Picture: Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia
Sutton’s performance in last Friday night’s Broncos-Titans semi-final was considered the worst by a referee in finals football for 40 years and caused outrage among fans.

His errors heavily contributed to the Titans losing the game.

His most crucial mistake was allowing a Broncos try in the 51st minute to give the home side a 10-point lead when replays clearly showed centre James Roberts had kicked an opponent in the back in the lead up to the try.

Referee Gavin Badger has been dumped altogether. Picture: Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia
He also missed Broncos forward Corey Parker head-butting an opponent. There was no penalty but Parker received an official warning letter from the match review committee.

Matt Cecchin has been appointed as the head referee for the Cowboys-Broncos game with Shortall his assistant.

Sutton has refereed grand finals and State of Origins as the game’s number one referee in recent years but will now struggle to get the grand final following his demotion.

There were fears he would escape being dumped when Archer said over the weekend: “I’m very comfortable with how they are handling the games at the moment.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...e/news-story/498f194713c653e07399b0c20a23f283

 

[Generalzod]

Badger was okay until he was paired with Sutton....

 

[roboshark]

Wooohooooooooooooo

Merkin

 

[Card Shark]

Our premiership odds just shortened.

 

[roboshark]

Now al we need is his just as moronic brother dumped from the bunker

 

[jc155776]

Pocket refs can still blow bullshit nothing penalties and influence the main ref.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Keep up the good work Cecchin!!

 

[coolumsharkie]

Pocket refs can still blow bullshit nothing penalties and influence the main ref.

Yes but I doubt he'll be ready to overcall anyone again this year. He's a shitmerkin of a ref.

 

[Frenzy.]

Pocket refs can still blow bullshit nothing penalties and influence the main ref.

Yep, don't know what's exciting about this. It's lip service from Archer. Be seen to be doing something.

 

[Frenzy.]

Yes but I doubt he'll be ready to overcall anyone again this year. He's a shitmerkin of a ref.

He will. He's arrogant.

 

[roboshark]

We will see

 

[roboshark]

Wasn't Sutton responsible for most of the bad calls. Why is badger dropped and the merkin demoted

Archer is a mug

 

[Frenzy.]

Badger should of seen the kick by Roberts. He was pocket = ruck

 

[Weaponhead]

Badger should of seen the kick by Roberts. He was pocket = ruck

Exactly. He was right there and did nothing. Suttons view would have been obstructed by Simpkins body. Badger had no excuse except incompetence.

Surely the bunker could have intervened due to foul play.

 

[Frenzy.]

Exactly. He was right there and did nothing. Suttons view would have been obstructed by Simpkins body. Badger had no excuse except incompetence.

Surely the bunker could have intervened due to foul play.

Apparently not. Some bull dust about only being able to go back as far as when he actually plays the ball.

What a crock.

 

[Quigs]

True Cap'n. If the imbecile had fumbled knocked on in the tackle and was not seen by the whistle blowers, then he gets up and quickley plays the ball - team scores - try reviewed. What happens then?

Technically it happened before he plays the ball.

Yeppers it is all a crock.

 

[Chimp]

This 'explanation' that they couldn't go back to the kick as it was before the play the ball is nonsense.
They changed the rule earlier this year about the bunker only being able to interject for foul play if it is a chargeable offence - which kicking clearly is, so, regardless of whether a try was scored, the bunker should be able to go back to the foul play.
I've seen loads of examples where a player goes down injured from foul play but the game carries on, there are 2 or 3 tackles completed before the game is stopped due to the injury - the bunker then reviews the incident and a penalty is awarded (even though there's been a few play the balls since the incident).
Archer is just trying the mother of all smears.

 

[Surely]

i love how they cant rule on forward passes , something to do with angle of the cameras but can rule on offside

they make the keystone cops look professional

 

[Chimp]

And how does Roberts only get a 1 week charge (which will probably be overturned) when he blatantly looks at the bloke and kicks him (though not hard), yet Kasiano got 2 weeks for lashing out without looking and getting 'true gentleman of the game Cozza' in the mush.
Kasiano could at least claim he didn't mean to get him, Roberts has no excuse.

 

[Feej]

And how does Roberts only get a 1 week charge (which will probably be overturned) when he blatantly looks at the bloke and kicks him (though not hard), yet Kasiano got 2 weeks for lashing out without looking and getting 'true gentleman of the game Cozza' in the mush.
Kasiano could at least claim he didn't mean to get him, Roberts has no excuse.

Grand final "redemption" of course.