Retribution.......
Gerard Sutton demoted over Viliame Kikau no try oversight
Referees boss Bernard Sutton has been forced to make the tough call of demoting his own brother, lead referee Gerard, after his failure to use The Bunker for a controversial no try call on Friday night.
During Penrith's golden point thriller against the Tigers, Panthers second-rower Viliame Kikau reached over the try-line after a barnstorming run and appeared to touch a blade of white grass on his way down.
However, Sutton was adamant Kikau had lost control before grounding the ball and didn't hesitate in his decision to call no try without intervention from upstairs.
Did Kikau score this try?
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- NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine)
April 5, 2019
Replays confirmed the referee's oversight and on Monday
NRL head of football Graham Annesley conceded Sutton made an error in judgement.
"It's an error by the match officials, even if it hasn't received a lot of publicity," Annesley said on Monday.
"The problem with this incident is that it should have been referred to the video referee, and it wasn't.
"The on-field referee made a call of no try. That is a decision that should have gone to the video referee, on our review.
"It should have been awarded a try."
The decision, which surprisingly didn't receive much media attention over the weekend, has seen Sutton demoted into an assistant role under Ashley Klein for the Dragons' Sunday clash against Canterbury.
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The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield suggested Annesley had a hand in Sutton's punishment.
BREAKING: refs boss Bernard Sutton has demoted his brother and grand final ref Gerard to assistant role for not referring Billy Kikau try last weekend.
- BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield)
April 9, 2019
The NRL's number one referee was also demoted for an officiating mistake last year after a mix-up with touch judge Ricky MacFarlane.
McFarlane raised his flag during a Cronulla set, prompting Sutton to put the whistle to his lips without blowing it, leaving Raiders players distracted as they allowed Sione Katoa to score a try untouched.
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