Preston Campbell says nothing wrong with Matt Orford tackle By Stuart Honeysett
May 26, 2009
Gold Coast Titans fullback Preston Campbell has admitted Manly captain Matt Orford did not take him out, but that still didn't stop the NRL from defending embattled referee Matt Cecchin over his controversial decision which decided Sunday's game between the two clubs.
The Sea Eagles were left furious when Cecchin, in the 78th minute, blew a tough penalty against Orford for interfering with Campbell as he attempted to chase down a grubber kick.
Campbell fell over Orford, who had dived on the loose ball, and the Gold Coast captain, Scott Prince, landed the subsequent penalty goal to
hand the Titans a controversial 18-17 win.
A furious Orford told Cecchin he would be in reserve grade next week, while Manly coach Des Hasler said it was disappointing that a game had been decided by a junior referee who made a dreadful decision under pressure.
The premier's mood would not have been appeased Monday, after Campbell said he thought Orford was simply making a play for the ball and was unsure why Cecchin had blown the whistle.
"In the rules it states that you can make a play at the ball with your shoulders and I thought that's what he hit me with at the time," Campbell said.
"My initial thought was when I got up or when I heard the whistle blow that he'd knocked it on. I automatically jumped up and said take the scrum."
While acknowledging the Titans had been on their fair share of tough calls this season, Campbell conceded the players felt it was a hollow victory.
"When we were doing the lap, there was a few of us who were saying we were really lucky to get away with that," Campbell said.
"We did say in the dressing sheds afterwards ... you did feel a little bit hollow and you do feel for the Manly players."
Titans coach John Cartwright also conceded the call had been hard but said there had been other tough decisions that went against his team during the game.
"If it happened earlier in the game it would have got penalised and nothing would have been said," Cartwright said.
"It was a crucial time. If you look at it closely Matty Orford didn't hold his line. He did check Preston Campbell going for the ball. It was a 50/50 call and he made his call. We're focusing a lot of energy on one decision."
NRL referees coach Robert Finch spoke to Hasler Monday and said Cecchin's decision had polarised the room at the weekly debriefing yesterday.
It is believed Cecchin will not be selected for next weekend, as he is part of the team of officials that includes likely State of Origin referee Tony Archer. If Archer's appointment is endorsed by New South Wales and Queensland then he - and his team - will be rested from this weekend's rounds.
"The decision he made Sunday was an incredibly tough call to make and, whichever way he went, someone was going to criticise the outcome," Finch said in a statement.
"There was only one guy out there who had the job of deciding whether Orford tried to take Campbell out in attempting to get to the ball.
"This is not a situation where I can say the referee was categorically right or wrong - there's no doubt, however, he interpreted the events on the basis of having done everything correctly."
Hasler has been an outspoken critic of the dual referee system introduced into the NRL this season, but Campbell said he believed it was working.
"I don't notice the refs all that much," Campbell said.
"The only time you notice them is when the whistle's blown. I think it's been a good thing."
Finch defended several other controversial calls including:
A decision to sin bin Wests Tigers halfback Benji Marshall
against Brisbane on Friday night;
A decision to restart play at a scrum in the
South Sydney-Parramatta game which prevented the Rabbitohs from attempting a field goal.
