Henry sprays Harrigan

[gong_eagle]

By Dean Ritchie
August 28, 2007


http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22319518-5006066,00.html



FIRED-UP Raiders coach Neil Henry yesterday called on Bill Harrigan to get "in touch with reality" after the senior referees official called on NRL coaches to stop whingeing about contentious decisions.
The slanging match began after Henry, Manly's Des Hasler and Gold Coast coach John Cartwright publicly slammed decisions by referees and video referees at the weekend, with the Raiders' coach saying poor calls by officials could ruin the finals.
Hasler was yesterday fined $10,000 for angrily approaching match officials several times after the game against New Zealand in Auckland.
Manly are set to appeal the fine, arguing Hasler was invited into the referee's box at Mt Smart Stadium.
But Harrigan, the NRL's assistant referee's coach, yesterday spoke out on coaches constantly bagging referees.
"The coaches should be more concerned about their own teams," Harrigan said.
"They should have a look in their own backyards and see some of the plays their teams are making. That should be of more concern than the referee.
"They should get off the referee's back.
"We're just an easy target, more so as the semi-finals draw closer and there's more pressure on the coaches. It's down to do or die."
Harrigan said Henry's criticisms of a Todd Carney no-try, a disputed Steve Michaels try and an alleged "dive" by Bronco Shane Perry after a tackle, during Canberra's 30-19 loss to Brisbane were ill-founded.
"Henry jumped up and down about a couple of incidents but I have looked at them, as have all the refs, the video refs and touch judges, and we were right. He's wrong," Harrigan said.
But Henry last night returned serve at Harrigan.
"Surprise, surprise. I think we should get Bill in touch with reality," Henry said. "It's alright for Bill to sit there and say he's right but whose to say his opinion is always correct
Henry was not stepping away from his comments saying he feared a poor refereeing call could fatally harm a team's finals campaign.
"There are enough inconsistencies there to be a worry for coaches in the finals, I am sure a lot of other coaches are thinking that as well," Henry said.
While other coaches confirmed as much yesterday privately, most were unwilling to share their fears publicly.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said: "Everyone is out there to win and (one bad decision) can cost players or coaches their jobs."

But Cowboys coach Graham Murray said: "There have been some mistakes recently. There's no getting away from that.
"But refereeing is a tough and demanding job."
Harrigan denied his referees and match officials were struggling.
"The referees are going well - let them just get on with it," he said.

 

[gong_eagle]

WILL the NRL please fine itself $10,000

Comment by Ray Chesterton
August 28, 2007


http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22320389-5001023,00.html


WILL the NRL please fine itself $10,000 for failing in its responsibility to produce capable refereeing in matches.
Last night a crucial Parramatta try by Feleti Mateo came from a distinct knock-on in the previous play the ball, followed by a likely forward pass and a suggestion of a double movement.
The knock-on couldn't be adjudicated upon under the rules but why didn't someone see it?
Watching a try scored after an illegality ridicules the game.
Why didn't someone call the forward pass?
NRL boss David Gallop's only answer to the referee crisis is to issue $10,000 breach notices to complaining coaches. After last weekend Manly coach Des Hasler has to show cause why he shouldn't be fined $10,000.
All that does is boost NRL coffers.
It does nothing to restore public and player confidence in the consistent quality of referee decisions.
For the Dragons last night was a game when the chameleons of the premiership didn't change colours.
They started vigorously, ran in two good tries for 12-0 at halftime and should have been further ahead. Parramatta had the better of the second half in terms of domination without being able to score more than six points.
It is a jolt for coach Michael Hagan's ambitions for Parramatta this season.
Dragon half Jamie Soward had a mighty game kicking three goals and laying on a try.
In the second half as Parramatta kept surging, it was Soward who pushed his troops forward.
Parramatta, now having to be beat Brisbane on Sunday to ensure they make the four, struggled last night for fluency in attack.
They also uncharacteristically produced some worrying tackles.
The Dragons have at least avoided the wooden spoon which would have made a disappointing season historically dismal.

Dragon Simon Woolford said the players had bonded this week promising to produce their best in the final two rounds.
"We wanted to finish the season on a high," he said.
"If we win next week it would be a good finish."

All of which leaves the obvious question why didn't they take the vow to play better about 14 weeks ago.

 

[Twizzle]

there really is no excuse for video refs getting it wrong

 

[skeepe]

Everybody can see that we have a refereeing crisis. I honestly cannot remember it being this bad - and the video refs are getting in on the act this year. What annoys me, and I'm sure most of us who can see this, is the fact that there is one person, other than the referees themselves, who cannot see this - Robert Finch.

Here's a quote from a Canberra Times story (the byline is from AAP so I'm sure it'll be up somewhere on the net, I just can't find it) that really sums up what is wrong with the game at the moment:

Referees' coach Robert Finch brushed off concerns there was a lack of confidence in referees as "a yearly event".

So there we have it, the official line from the man in charge of the most incompetent group of officials in living memory: "Crisis? What Crisis?"

 

[Manly fLIP]

Do you really think he would admit that they are having a shocker with the first final just 11 days away.

It would be suicide.

I would expect to see more done in the off season though.

 

[Bigfella]

And the arrogance of Harrigan. "We are right. Everyone else is wrong".

 

[The Colonel]

"Henry jumped up and down about a couple of incidents but I have looked at them, as have all the refs, the video refs and touch judges, and we were right. He's wrong," Harrigan said.

There in lies the next biggest problem. Hollywood was never wrong as a referee and can't see anything wrong now he is in charge. As the referee's coach it is a worry

But Henry last night returned serve at Harrigan.
"Surprise, surprise. I think we should get Bill in touch with reality," Henry said. "It's alright for Bill to sit there and say he's right but whose to say his opinion is always correct

 

[Azkatro]

If coaches can get fined for giving the referees a spray, referees should be liable to fines for making wrong decisions.

 

[Ianc]

Why is it ok for players & coaches to be human & make mistakes but not for refs?

 

[dubby]

Just get rid of the VIdeo Ref.

 

[badav]

If coaches can get fined for giving the referees a spray, referees should be liable to fines for making wrong decisions.

Worst idea ever.

 

[legend]

Why is it ok for players & coaches to be human & make mistakes but not for refs?

Are you serious?

Video refs have all the technology at their fingertips and continually get it wrong. I have a great deal of sympathy for on field referees as they have a challenging job and I can cop mistakes from them but not the imbeciles in the box, who are ruining games on a weekly basis.

There is no excuse for a video ref to get it wrong. Ever.

 

[Ice777]

Why is it ok for players & coaches to be human & make mistakes but not for refs?

If a player repeatedly makes mistakes over and over again they're dropped from first grade and rightly so. If a coach makes that amount of mistakes they're eventually sacked. If the referee's continuously make these errors (which they are) they and the referee's boss just laugh it off and say it's a yearly event that players/coaches get upset about it and the shocking standard just goes on.

Out of every ref, how many times a year does one of them get dropped for poor form? Once maybe twice at most? Well players get dropped on a weekly basis for sub standard performances so if you want to compare players and coaches to refs then the latter should be held every bit as accountable. The fact that they aren't just makes it a ridiculous comparison on your part.

 

[Ianc]

Agree that VR have very little excuse for error. Chesterton started off by bagging the on field ref as do most of the fans.
Without generalising, refs are quickly blamed for a team losing a game with the mistakes made by players brushed over. IIRC Manly made 50 mistakles on the weekend, surely that played a large part in there loss?
I agree that refs need to be held accountable. Maybe alot of the anger that fans & coaches have could be eased with the refs coming out & saying we were wrong/ we made a mistake. Then again this may give those people even more reason to blame them for a loss.
Don't get me wrong I hate the refs bad calls us mauch as anyone. But I think coaches, especially Hasler, need to blame themselves & their players for a loss more than what they do.

 

[Perth Red]

not so much a reffing crisis as a TV replay crisis. Refs have always made mistakes, just now a days we get to see every play from three angles 5 times. If a player was dropped every time he made two or three mistakes in a game, clubs would need a squad of 50!

Count how many times a player makes three mistakes or more ie drops ball, forward pass, misses tackle etc etc then tell me a ref makes more mistakes than 75% of the players on the field. Give it a go and see how hard reffing is, not making excuses for them but it is a rock hard job.

Also doesn't help when they change rules that stops decisions being clear cut and make them require a refs interpretation. ie obstruction, playing at the ball, stripping etc.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

"Surprise, surprise. I think we should get Bill in touch with reality," Henry said. "It's alright for Bill to sit there and say he's right but whose to say his opinion is always correct

bill. just ask him

 

[gurl_child]

Saying that the players make mistakes so the referees can be forgiven for their mistakes is dumb. When the players make mistakes they pay for them the ref's hardly do. I don't know the reason behind it all.

 

[super_coach]

The problem Dill in the box( I mean Bill) has his own rules that are different to the offical rule book. His best is the obstruction rule,he loves that one, he decides if a defender did a bad read or was out of postion or is a lazy defender,or plays for a club he has a grudge against than presses green.
Bruce Maguire Warren Ryan and 30000 tigers fans will tell you he wasnt much better when he was on the park

 

[waltzing Meninga]

It seems Bill changes the "interpretations" in order to be consistent with other similar f**k ups that have occured previously in the season.

Absolut disgrace that he would even consider comming out defending that video ref call

 

[Bobby DIGital]

After watching Gus on the Sunday Roast say "They ALL play at it" in reference to making a tackle with a regular round arm wrapping motion, and touching the ball...I knew Harrigran would disallow that dead set try from Carney. He was so clearly influenced by Gus' lil rant. bullsh*t call. Harrigan's a tosser.