Monty Betham says Warriors officiating 'worst in 25 years', apology isn't enough
JACKSON THOMAS
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...ing-worst-in-25-years-and-apology-isnt-enough
Warriors fans and players have long put up with it, but former hooker Monty Betham says refereeing has hit its worst point in club history and something must be done.
In the wake of the Warriors' controversial two-point loss to the Eels on Saturday, it was the men in the middle who came under the most fire for
several dubious decisions that left plenty on both sides of the Tasman scratching their heads.
The key moments were two clean one-on-one strip penalties that went against the Warriors (who finished on the wrong side of a 9-2 penalty count) and a late forward pass ruling that cost Gerard Beale the match winner.
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Warriors boss tells fans to 'dress up as a ref'
Social media erupted in the aftermath with fans demanding answers and many claiming there was a conspiracy against the lone New Zealand club.
DAVID NEILSON/PHOTOSPORT
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck reacts after one of many contentious decisions ultimately cost his side victory.
Betham played more than 100 games for the Warriors between 1999-2005, and said Saturday's officiating was an all time low point for the game.
"The refereeing against the Warriors is at a point where it's the worst it's been in 25 years, it's ridiculous," Betham said.
"Over the years we all [as players] and fans feel that there is a bit of a bias against the Warriors and that may or may not be the case.
"In fact I've personally seen Australian players come over from other clubs and even say 'wow this is tough' – but it's more than that now.
"We always just kind of sucked it up and said 'oh well that's the way it is' but It's complete incompetence now, and Stephen Kearney's comments post match really fired me up, I couldn't have agreed more."
ANTHONY AU-YEUNG/GETTY IMAGES
Former Warriors captain Monty Betham says the quality of refereeing has reached an historic low.
Following his side's loss, Kearney took aim at the referees' ruling on one-on-one strips in particular, saying if they can't rule on it accurately the rule should be "p..... off" all together.
Like most, Betham was among those stunned at those calls as much as any, but took particular issue with the late forward pass ruling.
After a brilliant solo break from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, it was a forward pass call that ultimately cost the Warriors the go-ahead try, and Betham took to social media to illustrate how just minutes earlier the referees had missed a blatant forward pass from the Eels.
"It's tough, you feel for the players because the should have won in spite of the ridiculous penalty count, but then that pass was ruled back," he said.
"It's common sense. The mechanics of a flick pass, which was what Roger threw, it has to go backwards. It's actually really hard to throw a pass forward like that."
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Monty Betham says as a player, biased refereeing against the Warriors was just part of the game.
Referees boss Graham Annesley will give his weekly address on Monday afternoon,and may apologise for several rulings in the contest and hand down sanctions to referees Chris Sutton and Chris Butler.
MARK EVANS/GETTY IMAGES
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looked to have set-up the match winner for his side with this flick pass, only for it to be ruled forward.
But Betham said that would come as little vindication for fans and the Warriors playing group.
"So what?," he said.
"The referees get a slap on the wrist and they're done with it, but this has a much larger effect than just the refs missing one game.
"For the Warriors, let's be honest they often let themselves down but this year and I said it before it's [the officiating] the worst it's been in 25 years, they have been penalised out of five competition points at least. That gets them into the eight.
"So it starts to effect the club's bottom line, bums on seats and trying to recruit players because nobody will want to come to a club that isn't playing finals football. There has to be more accountability and the NRL need to wake up."
New Zealand Rugby League player of the century, and former Warriors coach Mark Graham didn't mince words when giving his thoughts on the officiating on Saturday either, and believed it was time the NRL looked elsewhere for referees.
"Whatever they're doing now, it's not working, so I suggest the NRL start looking for referees somewhere else," he said.
"The forward pass was a joke, you look at the angle he threw that Roger would dead set have to dislocate his elbow to throw that forward."
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Mark Graham said he wouldn't have been able to excersise the same level of restraint as Stephen Kearney.
Graham applauded the players and coaches restraint in not going harder at the referees, also.
"Good on them, I would have copped the fine and unleashed in that press conference because it's not on," he said.
"I don't think Kearney and Cameron Gerorge have come out with enough urgency, this has been going on for far too long and even in my coaching days it was going on."
Graham believed there was a clear bias against the Warriors on the part of the referees, whether they even knew they were doing it or not, and said it had been going on since the club entered the competition.
The loss leaves the Warriors sitting 12th on the competition ladder and needing a minor miracle to make the finals.
They host Canberra on Friday at Mt Smart Stadium.
