The NRL is failing it's fans

[maxta]

I'll obviously start with the Manly game against Tigers and I'll stick with my previous opinion.....we played poorly on every level and were soft as marshmallows.
But the officialling was orderline corrupt and after watching the Dogs game where they were allowed to shoulder charge the Star NZ player straight to the head, so badly he was unable to come back and basically cop just a penalty, I have nothing....feel a bit empty.....then there was a Dogs player driven over the sideline with momentum of 3 players similar to Koula the other night....Koula was out and the Dogs player gets a penalty for a mirror situation....
Also the Manly game (which we deserved to lose based on attitude) there was a pass to an unmarked Saab, where the Tiger bloke obviously batted the ball, yet Tigers feed and the time a Tiger player had 2 feet and half a body over the sideline and they called him in - well its unexplainable ???
The game I grew up on the players decided every game, but with so many shades of grey with interpretations, it's all become a bit messy and as a Manly fan, we seem to cop it most.
In saying that, I'm sure other supporters could rightfully have the same opinion after bias officialing against their team.
The Top 2 match a few ago Penrith vs Storm, the 1st (so called try) a Storm decoy runner charges at the outside shoulder of Cleary taking him out, yet they awarded the try......and you know what, I don't think Cleary would have got there so common sense says try, but it's NOT what the NRL have set in stone in other matches "most" of the season.
Iv'e also noticed so many players running across field "behind" their own players and it's not obstruction ???
The time on the tackled player is a deadset lottery, I have seen so many games a team (let's say Storm for example) is laying over players for an eternity, they get the ball back from a kick and on the 2nd tackle (which looks normal and far less time) Penalty Storm .....that's just an example, but they seem so hard to follow and again an area Manly seem to cop it.
then this down town rule - fine it gives the FB or wingers extra space to return, but......95% of kick players there are chasers in front, so how in hell do they find a penaly (I'll tell you when, if it's convenient to change a games momentum)....a bit like these apparent over the horizontal pens like Jake keeps copping where the bloke is put on his back....it's a darn perfect tackle, not an offence !
Anyways letting some steam off Sat morning and gunna enjoy my day Silvertail friends, there are many other things to add , so please feel free to contribute as Iv'e only tipped the Iceberg above !

 

[47MVEagle]

Yep, it sure is a lottery & with so many rules to follow & crack down on at various times during the season, you never know what’s going to happen these days.

 

[LeonardCohen]

I'll obviously start with the Manly game against Tigers and I'll stick with my previous opinion.....we played poorly on every level and were soft as marshmallows.
But the officialling was orderline corrupt and after watching the Dogs game where they were allowed to shoulder charge the Star NZ player straight to the head, so badly he was unable to come back and basically cop just a penalty, I have nothing....feel a bit empty.....then there was a Dogs player driven over the sideline with momentum of 3 players similar to Koula the other night....Koula was out and the Dogs player gets a penalty for a mirror situation....
Also the Manly game (which we deserved to lose based on attitude) there was a pass to an unmarked Saab, where the Tiger bloke obviously batted the ball, yet Tigers feed and the time a Tiger player had 2 feet and half a body over the sideline and they called him in - well its unexplainable ???
The game I grew up on the players decided every game, but with so many shades of grey with interpretations, it's all become a bit messy and as a Manly fan, we seem to cop it most.
In saying that, I'm sure other supporters could rightfully have the same opinion after bias officialing against their team.
The Top 2 match a few ago Penrith vs Storm, the 1st (so called try) a Storm decoy runner charges at the outside shoulder of Cleary taking him out, yet they awarded the try......and you know what, I don't think Cleary would have got there so common sense says try, but it's NOT what the NRL have set in stone in other matches "most" of the season.
Iv'e also noticed so many players running across field "behind" their own players and it's not obstruction ???
The time on the tackled player is a deadset lottery, I have seen so many games a team (let's say Storm for example) is laying over players for an eternity, they get the ball back from a kick and on the 2nd tackle (which looks normal and far less time) Penalty Storm .....that's just an example, but they seem so hard to follow and again an area Manly seem to cop it.
then this down town rule - fine it gives the FB or wingers extra space to return, but......95% of kick players there are chasers in front, so how in hell do they find a penaly (I'll tell you when, if it's convenient to change a games momentum)....a bit like these apparent over the horizontal pens like Jake keeps copping where the bloke is put on his back....it's a darn perfect tackle, not an offence !
Anyways letting some steam off Sat morning and gunna enjoy my day Silvertail friends, there are many other things to add , so please feel free to contribute as Iv'e only tipped the Iceberg above !

I hate the NRL, I just stick around because I love Manly and it's not our fault when officiating is so poor. I'd be punishing my club if I walked away from the game, so I won't. But the actual game itself and the officiating is an absolute disgrace. The futile pursuit of perfection has destroyed the fabric of the game. It's a terrible product that we have now. There's no spontaneity in those exciting moments anymore because the Bunker will intervene or there will be a Captain's Challenge or play will suddenly be halted for a HIA. Then you've got that stupid bell that rings for '6 again'; what a ridiculous rule. Powder puff slaps that come up off the ball are penalised and when someone shoulder charges another player in the head that goes off for the rest of the match, suddenly that's just a penalty and no sin bin.

The game is grossly over-officiated and it's destroyed the excitement and destroyed the product. NRL HQ should hang their heads in shame. I don't blame the referees. They're confused and responding to pressure from the earpiece and the post-game media deconstruction. Everyone that has played a role in getting us to this point should sack themselves.

 

[Eagle 1]

It's a dead set copy and paste with the Ref's and what they rule on. The Bulldogs Warriors game was very similar to ours, Warriors had a nice lead like us, only to see it disappear in the blink of an eye.
Seems the Ref's are all in on this type of officiating. Need an ex Referee of good standing to come out and say some home truths on what is plainly going on here.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I'll obviously start with the Manly game against Tigers and I'll stick with my previous opinion.....we played poorly on every level and were soft as marshmallows.
But the officialling was orderline corrupt and after watching the Dogs game where they were allowed to shoulder charge the Star NZ player straight to the head, so badly he was unable to come back and basically cop just a penalty, I have nothing....feel a bit empty.....then there was a Dogs player driven over the sideline with momentum of 3 players similar to Koula the other night....Koula was out and the Dogs player gets a penalty for a mirror situation....
Also the Manly game (which we deserved to lose based on attitude) there was a pass to an unmarked Saab, where the Tiger bloke obviously batted the ball, yet Tigers feed and the time a Tiger player had 2 feet and half a body over the sideline and they called him in - well its unexplainable ???
The game I grew up on the players decided every game, but with so many shades of grey with interpretations, it's all become a bit messy and as a Manly fan, we seem to cop it most.
In saying that, I'm sure other supporters could rightfully have the same opinion after bias officialing against their team.
The Top 2 match a few ago Penrith vs Storm, the 1st (so called try) a Storm decoy runner charges at the outside shoulder of Cleary taking him out, yet they awarded the try......and you know what, I don't think Cleary would have got there so common sense says try, but it's NOT what the NRL have set in stone in other matches "most" of the season.
Iv'e also noticed so many players running across field "behind" their own players and it's not obstruction ???
The time on the tackled player is a deadset lottery, I have seen so many games a team (let's say Storm for example) is laying over players for an eternity, they get the ball back from a kick and on the 2nd tackle (which looks normal and far less time) Penalty Storm .....that's just an example, but they seem so hard to follow and again an area Manly seem to cop it.
then this down town rule - fine it gives the FB or wingers extra space to return, but......95% of kick players there are chasers in front, so how in hell do they find a penaly (I'll tell you when, if it's convenient to change a games momentum)....a bit like these apparent over the horizontal pens like Jake keeps copping where the bloke is put on his back....it's a darn perfect tackle, not an offence !
Anyways letting some steam off Sat morning and gunna enjoy my day Silvertail friends, there are many other things to add , so please feel free to contribute as Iv'e only tipped the Iceberg above !

I am no conspiracy theorist,but I couldn't believe when we challenged a decision after 90 seconds.
Unless it was a 100 percent obvious choice to make you don't do it.
Straight away I thought WTF,now the ref will be able to do whatever he wants because we can't challenge any decision,I actually had a feeling we were done.
Not excusing our lack of discipline and some poor errors.

 

[robbiea]

We were atrocious,Yes.
But the games officiating is at its all time worst.
Throw in the crap rule changes and the primadonna's in the middle.
I can understand why longtime fans are turning their backs on the game.
Its abysmal to watch at the moment.
And don't get me started on the ref's & the six again calls.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

DCE is part of the problem at times. The decision to challenge after 90-odd seconds was one.

Another is that for two weeks in a row he has come in as third man in a tackle in Manly’s half, leading to a penalty against and a momentum shift.

After 14 years in the top grade, DCE still comes up with some amazingly stupid decisions.

 

[Nordburg]

DCE is part of the problem at times. The decision to challenge after 90-odd seconds was one.

Another is that for two weeks in a row he has come in as third man in a tackle in Manly’s half, leading to a penalty against and a momentum shift.

After 14 years in the top grade, DCE still comes up with some amazingly stupid decisions.

DCE seems a bit off at the moment,maybe his age is catching up with him after a big and deflating Origin series.I also tend to think he’s not the ideal captain when the team gets out to a “big” lead.He likes to play a bit more loose,rather than knuckle down and grind it out.It was only one game,but look at TomT’s attitude when he was skipper against Newcastle.He was still barking at players despite the comfortable position they were in,a real killer instinct.Pity he’s injured so often,preventing him from taking over

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

DCE seems a bit off at the moment,maybe his age is catching up with him after a big and deflating Origin series.I also tend to think he’s not the ideal captain when the team gets out to a “big” lead.He likes to play a bit more loose,rather than knuckle down and grind it out.It was only one game,but look at TomT’s attitude when he was skipper against Newcastle.He was still barking at players despite the comfortable position they were in,a real killer instinct.Pity he’s injured so often,preventing him from taking over

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

Agree too that DCE’s resilience must have a lot to do with his vice-like grip on the captain’s role.

 

[Eagle 1]

DCE seems a bit off at the moment,maybe his age is catching up with him after a big and deflating Origin series.I also tend to think he’s not the ideal captain when the team gets out to a “big” lead.He likes to play a bit more loose,rather than knuckle down and grind it out.It was only one game,but look at TomT’s attitude when he was skipper against Newcastle.He was still barking at players despite the comfortable position they were in,a real killer instinct.Pity he’s injured so often,preventing him from taking over

Think Tom being Capt would be to much for him tbh, he's virtually involved in every play as it is. He'd be out of breath in the team huddles to talk.

 

[Damien2812]

If it wasn't for the Manly club being in the NRL I wouldn't bother watching the game anymore. The rules are confusing, the game managing element which is very predictable during Manly games is making me more frustrated with the game. No longer does the best team win without the refs getting involved.

 

[Damien2812]

DCE seems a bit off at the moment,maybe his age is catching up with him after a big and deflating Origin series.I also tend to think he’s not the ideal captain when the team gets out to a “big” lead.He likes to play a bit more loose,rather than knuckle down and grind it out.It was only one game,but look at TomT’s attitude when he was skipper against Newcastle.He was still barking at players despite the comfortable position they were in,a real killer instinct.Pity he’s injured so often,preventing him from taking over

The issue is when the team starts well and puts on quick points the refs start game managing the team that's behind with penalties. The issue with Manly is we struggle during that "game managing" period to get the ball back and slowly turn that momentum around in our favour.

 

[maxta]

The issue is when the team starts well and puts on quick points the refs start game managing the team that's behind with penalties. The issue with Manly is we struggle during that "game managing" period to get the ball back and slowly turn that momentum around in our favour.

Well said mate - 100%

 

[sheridanstand78]

The game is so fast now that if you make a slight misjudgement its a high tackle.

What I dislike is there is no consistency over the way the game is adjudicated and all we get each Monday from the refs boss is defending the inexplicable.

We all saw what happened on Thursday night with the way Gough spoke to DCE told you we were in for a difficult night. That ref only bothered to referee one side in that game and in the 2nd half he got worse.

The contrast from last night when the turning point of that game was the illegal hit on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, not only handicapped the Warriors who lost him for the game and also next week and the culprit cops a mere penalty and no sanction until after the game is done and dusted, that stinks to high heaven!!

My fear is the officiating is going to cost a team a big game and what we need to remember, the best two games over the last year were last years grand final and this years origin where officials let the players decide the game.

This annoying 6 again rule is for me the biggest blight on the game, so inconsistent and at the discretion of a referee often used to give a losing team a leg up, I hate it so much, this is ruining the flow of the game!!

 

[themanwithnoname]

I agree with most comments, and also feel coaches, who deliberately push beyond the rules (and spirit of the game) are at least partly to blame. For example, a stronger officiating body could have zealously penalised the neck pressure/wrestling when this started and killed it off. But what about the coaches that plan and then train players to deliberately adopt techniques that are dangerous and illegal?

 

[mickqld]

The more I watch this weekend the more I'm convinced the nrl through Gough was on a mission to manufacture that result. The Bullemore sin bin was without doubt pre meditated in that clown's head. Could've been anyone but he was determined to do it. The Olakau'atu sin bin was beyond a joke and the Waddell suspension compared to the Crichton farce just screams blatant rigging. Watch anal cyst on Monday excuse all of it.

 

[davohan123]

The more I watch this weekend the more I'm convinced the nrl through Gough was on a mission to manufacture that result. The Bullemore sin bin was without doubt pre meditated in that clown's head. Could've been anyone but he was determined to do it. The Olakau'atu sin bin was beyond a joke and the Waddell suspension compared to the Crichton farce just screams blatant rigging. Watch anal cyst on Monday excuse all of it.

Would never admit to it but yes the more and more I think about yes
And nothing will be said come Monday

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I’ve been banging on about this for literally years & some of you have agreed but many accused me of being in the tin foil hat brigade.

But as time marches on this game is more & more stage managed than ever before and rule changes like “ 6 again “ have been brought in not to improve the game but to underhandedly control the game.

The broadcasters cream themselves when it’s a close game and have screaming orgasm’s when it’s golden point , there’s your culprit right there !!

Yes the ones who fund the game , pay the big bucks and make their money through subscriptions or and or advertising.

They know their markets really really well , the northern beaches aren’t their prime concern as only a small % living there are league fans.

Brisbane , in fact Queensland in general & western Sydney are money pits.

They are desperate for teams like , the Tigers, South’s , Parramatta, Penrith , Broncos , Dolphins to be successful so a little “ manipulation “ along the way can’t hurt can it ???

Unless you are a fan of one of the clubs that get screwed , often !!

I love my club , but hate the game these days , and could easily walk away from it completely ( if not for my life long support).

All those who have been involved in this shafting of a great game need to be taken out the back and hung , drawn & quartered.

 

[maxta]

I’ve been banging on about this for literally years & some of you have agreed but many accused me of being in the tin foil hat brigade.

But as time marches on this game is more & more stage managed than ever before and rule changes like “ 6 again “ have been brought in not to improve the game but to underhandedly control the game.

The broadcasters cream themselves when it’s a close game and have screaming orgasm’s when it’s golden point , there’s your culprit right there !!

Yes the ones who fund the game , pay the big bucks and make their money through subscriptions or and or advertising.

They know their markets really really well , the northern beaches aren’t their prime concern as only a small % living there are league fans.

Brisbane , in fact Queensland in general & western Sydney are money pits.

They are desperate for teams like , the Tigers, South’s , Parramatta, Penrith , Broncos , Dolphins to be successful so a little “ manipulation “ along the way can’t hurt can it ???

Unless you are a fan of one of the clubs that get screwed , often !!

I love my club , but hate the game these days , and could easily walk away from it completely ( if not for my life long support).

All those who have been involved in this shafting of a great game need to be taken out the back and hung , drawn & quartered.

We basically share the same opinion 🙌

 

[Dion Johnson]

I’ve been banging on about this for literally years & some of you have agreed but many accused me of being in the tin foil hat brigade.

But as time marches on this game is more & more stage managed than ever before and rule changes like “ 6 again “ have been brought in not to improve the game but to underhandedly control the game.

The broadcasters cream themselves when it’s a close game and have screaming orgasm’s when it’s golden point , there’s your culprit right there !!

Yes the ones who fund the game , pay the big bucks and make their money through subscriptions or and or advertising.

They know their markets really really well , the northern beaches aren’t their prime concern as only a small % living there are league fans.

Brisbane , in fact Queensland in general & western Sydney are money pits.

They are desperate for teams like , the Tigers, South’s , Parramatta, Penrith , Broncos , Dolphins to be successful so a little “ manipulation “ along the way can’t hurt can it ???

Unless you are a fan of one of the clubs that get screwed , often !!

I love my club , but hate the game these days , and could easily walk away from it completely ( if not for my life long support).

All those who have been involved in this shafting of a great game need to be taken out the back and hung , drawn & quartered.

I don’t think you stand alone with your views there, I was recently back in Australia visiting family and I was surprised that my dad, uncles and some of their mates no longer watch the game liked they used too.

Their collective views were one of the salary cap and third party agreements show the game is a failure to compete evenly, the subjective nature of the six agains, the momentum swings pushed by officials along with different opinions from the officials.

Most people want the rules black and white and at least the referees signal what the six again is for, the high shots etc, Wayne Bennett called it earlier this season I thought when he said professional fouls sin bin and the rest leave for the MRC.

Having grown up listening to the ABC country radio each weekend with the games called it’s a shame to see an older generation not enjoy the game what they loved in the seats of their home on television or phone.