eelcatcher
Reserve Grader
By Steve Jancetic AAP
Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah claims defenders are using the new obstruction rule as a cop-out to prevent tries, adding that NRL teams would soon be forced to change the way the game was played.
The Tigers were livid when denied what could have been a crucial try to Tim Moltzen during their 26-0 loss to Manly on Thursday night.
The score was 14-0 when Moltzen was called back, with Chris Lawrence running into opposite centre Jamie Lyon inside from where the Tigers fullback went over.
The obstruction rule has caused plenty of consternation over the opening few rounds of the season, with new referees boss Daniel Anderson having insisted on a zero tolerance policy to decoy runners coming in contact with defenders.
"Players are using it as a cop-out," Farah said when asked about the rule.
"You've got players in the defensive line just getting hit and then straight away putting their hands up, using it as a cop-out.
"They're trying to make it a black and white rule but you can't.
"I thought we were making progress at the start of the year. We just seem to have gone backwards."
Asked if he would go down if a decoy runner came at him near the tryline, Farah said: "After seeing tonight, bloody oath."
The NSW Origin rake claimed the new interpretation would change the way the game was played.
"We almost can't run second-man plays anymore down near the line - it's getting that ridiculous," he said.
"I just can't understand how and why they're ruling it this wrong.
"The one last week in the Melbourne game, the Cooper Cronk try - that was just absurd. That's a try every day of the week."
Lyon offered a sheepish smile when asked about his recollection of the incident.
Asked if he outsmarted the Tigers, Lyon said: "I don't know about that. I fell over - he ran into me."
p.s. Moderators I tried to submit this as a news article a few times but it doesn't seem to be working. Sorry about that.
Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah claims defenders are using the new obstruction rule as a cop-out to prevent tries, adding that NRL teams would soon be forced to change the way the game was played.
The Tigers were livid when denied what could have been a crucial try to Tim Moltzen during their 26-0 loss to Manly on Thursday night.
The score was 14-0 when Moltzen was called back, with Chris Lawrence running into opposite centre Jamie Lyon inside from where the Tigers fullback went over.
The obstruction rule has caused plenty of consternation over the opening few rounds of the season, with new referees boss Daniel Anderson having insisted on a zero tolerance policy to decoy runners coming in contact with defenders.
"Players are using it as a cop-out," Farah said when asked about the rule.
"You've got players in the defensive line just getting hit and then straight away putting their hands up, using it as a cop-out.
"They're trying to make it a black and white rule but you can't.
"I thought we were making progress at the start of the year. We just seem to have gone backwards."
Asked if he would go down if a decoy runner came at him near the tryline, Farah said: "After seeing tonight, bloody oath."
The NSW Origin rake claimed the new interpretation would change the way the game was played.
"We almost can't run second-man plays anymore down near the line - it's getting that ridiculous," he said.
"I just can't understand how and why they're ruling it this wrong.
"The one last week in the Melbourne game, the Cooper Cronk try - that was just absurd. That's a try every day of the week."
Lyon offered a sheepish smile when asked about his recollection of the incident.
Asked if he outsmarted the Tigers, Lyon said: "I don't know about that. I fell over - he ran into me."
p.s. Moderators I tried to submit this as a news article a few times but it doesn't seem to be working. Sorry about that.
