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From the SMH...
Ross says ref push had to come to shove
By Brad Walter
August 24, 2005
Penrith prop Ben Ross will present photographs at tonight's judiciary hearing to support his claim that he had no option but to push referee Shayne Hayne during last Sunday's win over Brisbane.
While admitting he deliberately shoved the referee out of the way to tackle Broncos international Brent Tate, Ross will plead not guilty to contrary conduct.
The charge, which will result in a one-match suspension for the Queensland Origin representative if found guilty, has polarised the league community, with players believing no action should have been taken over the matter, and match officials adamant that referees cannot be handled under any circumstances.
A spate of similar incidents caused controversy in AFL last season, with its tribunal taking issue with any player that bumped an umpire during the course of a game no matter how minor the contact.
But Ross will argue that Hayne took two steps backwards towards him as he was moving up to make the tackle and use the stills, taken from overhead video footage, to show that if he had not done so Tate would have scored, as there were no other Panthers defender behind him.
Penrith general manager Mick Leary said: "What are you going to do if someone's walking back into you? Are you just going to let them run over the top of you?
"It's one of those reactions in a split second, Tate's coming at him and the other two [defenders] miss, so if he doesn't tackle him he's gone. Or would they have called the try back for an obstruction because Ben couldn't get at him?"
Rugby League Professionals Association president Simon Woolford said referees had a responsibility not to put themselves in a position where a player was impeded. "Cleary he was getting the referee out of the way to make a tackle," Woolford said.
But Australian Rugby League Referees Association chief Steve Betts said no player had the right to deliberately push a referee.
Ross says ref push had to come to shove
By Brad Walter
August 24, 2005
Penrith prop Ben Ross will present photographs at tonight's judiciary hearing to support his claim that he had no option but to push referee Shayne Hayne during last Sunday's win over Brisbane.
While admitting he deliberately shoved the referee out of the way to tackle Broncos international Brent Tate, Ross will plead not guilty to contrary conduct.
The charge, which will result in a one-match suspension for the Queensland Origin representative if found guilty, has polarised the league community, with players believing no action should have been taken over the matter, and match officials adamant that referees cannot be handled under any circumstances.
A spate of similar incidents caused controversy in AFL last season, with its tribunal taking issue with any player that bumped an umpire during the course of a game no matter how minor the contact.
But Ross will argue that Hayne took two steps backwards towards him as he was moving up to make the tackle and use the stills, taken from overhead video footage, to show that if he had not done so Tate would have scored, as there were no other Panthers defender behind him.
Penrith general manager Mick Leary said: "What are you going to do if someone's walking back into you? Are you just going to let them run over the top of you?
"It's one of those reactions in a split second, Tate's coming at him and the other two [defenders] miss, so if he doesn't tackle him he's gone. Or would they have called the try back for an obstruction because Ben couldn't get at him?"
Rugby League Professionals Association president Simon Woolford said referees had a responsibility not to put themselves in a position where a player was impeded. "Cleary he was getting the referee out of the way to make a tackle," Woolford said.
But Australian Rugby League Referees Association chief Steve Betts said no player had the right to deliberately push a referee.
:lol: Top stuff Fibro
