Cronulla's Paul Gallen calls referee Jared Maxwell a "f...ing cheat"
By Dean Ritchie
From:
The Daily Telegraph
July 22, 2010
CRONULLA'S 2011 captain Paul Gallen has escaped punishment despite calling referee Jared Maxwell a "f ... ing cheat" during last weekend's match against Manly.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Gallen clashed with Maxwell in the 31st minute with the Sharks being belted 26-0 at Toyota Stadium.
Gallen was penalised and cautioned by Maxwell - but not sin-binned or sent off.
Failure to dismiss Gallen has set an ugly precedent for referees at all levels of rugby league. NRL refereeing officials were furious that Maxwell failed to dismiss Gallen with the drama being discussed at the weekly refereeing debrief on Monday morning.
A shocked Maxwell told Gallen on the field: "Now, I respect your frustration, that's the first point.
"The second point, there is no way in the wide world I'm going to talk to you the way that you just talked to me, that's why you're going to get a penalty [be penalised]."
The NRL match review committee did not issue a charge against Gallen because his words were inaudible on the Fox Sports coverage, but Maxwell knew exactly what the Sharks star said.
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With no audio back-up, the review committee felt an on-field penalty was sufficient.
That means Gallen will not be fined, suspended and reprimanded, and he'll be free to play in Cronulla's match against Canberra on Saturday afternoon at Canberra Stadium.
Maxwell will not referee this weekend although NRL referees coach Robert Finch insisted last night he was not sacked but "rested".
Manly players were stunned to hear Gallen's accusation and then see him remain on the field.
At least four times during his record-breaking career, former leading referee Bill Harrigan sent players from the field for dissent.
There were suggestions that fans wearing Sports Ears at Toyota Stadium could hear Gallen's harsh words.
The drama comes a day after new Sharks coach Shane Flanagan confirmed Gallen would lead his club in 2011. NSW management will also consider Gallen as Blues skipper for next season.
Finch would not name Gallen as the offender, only saying: "All I will say is that the referee spoke to the player and our review found that harsher action needed to be taken." Neither Flanagan nor Gallen would comment about the foul language last night.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said: "Any incidents that take place on the field are under the direct control of the match officials in the first instance.
"But, of course, they are able to be reviewed by the NRL match review committee. If there are no charges as a result, the matter ends at that point."
Junior rugby league referees are strongly encouraged to dismiss a player for dissent.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/ref-called-a-fng-cheat/story-e6frexnr-1225895300271
