I’m not at all pro-Cecchin, simply pro-rules. 9/10 times I’d agree but the game on Friday is the leftover. And on the contrary, it seems that you are being dictated by your feeling towards Cecchin.
The Damo summed up much of what I was going to say, but to clarify some of your questions:
- It was heavily penalised because Storm and Sharks are 2 of the worst offenders when it comes to wrestle, backchat and willingly giving away penalties. Hence, high penalty count.
- What’s your point in saying the penalties are petty? Were they not correct? And if they were correct, why are they petty? He policed both sides equally.
- As soon as you say that refs are responsible for making a spectacle then you are advocating away from them policing the rules.
Unfortunately you and The Damo don't seem to understand the main point of my responses to you.
Let me try and explain it one last time.
Cecchin's handling of the Melbourne/Cronulla game was not in line with the way the other refs handled theirs.
You keep harping on about Melbourne and Cronulla being serial offenders -
I agree!
But it is totally one eyed and naïve to suggest that they are the only teams that constantly flaunt the rules.
There was such a chasm in the penalty count compared to the other games that, EVEN THOUGH, Melbourne and Cronulla were involved, it still does not justify the massive penalty count.
Now this is the point you need to pay close attention to.
My position from the first instance has always been about
consistency.
I am not arguing with you about whether Cecchin made wrong decisions.
Your call out on whether a number of penalties were petty is subjective to a certain degree and short of analyzing every single penalty, I know what I saw and you disagree. That's fine too.
But if all the penalties that Cecchin blew were so correct, you are implying that all the other refs were again being too lenient.
I saw every game in round 4 live.
Every game involved standing offside, giving penalties on purpose on the goal line, wrestling, ref banter and so on.
All the same offences that Cecchin was blowing up and ultimately amassed a record penalty count. One nearly every 2 minutes in fact.
So back to my point.
Either Cecchin's approach is perfect and the other games should have had higher penalty counts OR Cecchin blew penalties which were border line and "petty".
Cecchin has a history of making wrong decisions - some which have cost teams dearly.
That is why I don't have much time for his style of refereeing.
Seeing that you also take issue at my comment about the ref's responsibility to the fans and the spectacle.
Good refs get on with their job, work with the captains and try and improve the game while policing the rules.
I am not advocating abandoning the rules just so the fans have a better spectacle.
So to put a fine point on this discussion.
It is not about Cecchin - I am simply advocating consistency from the refereeing fraternity in the context of the, long overdue crackdown imposed by the NRL.
Hope my position is now crystal clear.
