Recent entries
- The Equal Pay Debate
- Watch sport in school?
- Steve Jackson
- Gerry Harvey with Sports Today
- Video blog - Melbourne Storm
- Petero talks origin
- Smith wants clean record
- Never a dead rubber
- RSS Syndicate this blog (XML)
What we're talking about
- Robyn on The Equal Pay Debate For mine, it's not about the length of time on the court, it's about the quality of the product. Overall women's tennis is ... more
- Mick on The Equal Pay Debate PeteOne way to possibly avoid sexist accusations may be to pay a bonus to those in the quarter, semi and Final who play 4 or ... more
- Glenn Logan on The Equal Pay Debate If women want equal pay then they need too play the same number of sets. Its an absolute joke women are being payed more per ... more
- Saz on The Equal Pay Debate Women should get equal pay for the final IF they bring in the same ratings and same crowds - which they don't. Even the ... more
- horseracingtips on Horse Racing - The rules have to change i think it is not fair to the horse owner or to the trainer.the best way for that is all of them will coordinate with each ... more
- manny goldenberg on Why the Queensland Cup is great Well I've been watching the redcliffe dolphins at either the showground or dolphin oval for over 35 years and i yearn for ... more
- ella on Pub and Club trading Hours they should go along with this an it be safer for everyone else to. i agree with it an they should make the trading hours ... more
- cherie alexander on Video blog - Melbourne Storm Peter The Storm didn't just break the salary cap theblew it apart.To all those who have continued to saythat they were ... more
- cherie alexander on Never a dead rubber Great game..for a DeadRubber.The Blues reallytoook it to the"goodguys",but Qld won as Qld often do...in the last 4mins.So ... more
- Chris on Never a dead rubber Yeah, Peter!They should also play the NRL Grand Final outside of Sydney. If there's new management coming into the game, ... more
- cherie alexander on Never a dead rubber Hear hear Peter...it's nota dead rubber but a chancefor the"good guys to get awhite wash or The Blues toget one back.I can't ... more
- Robbie on What if we had City v Country? Looks good! And let's face it, the more rugby league we have, the better. But I agree with ando, let's help keep rugby ... more
- Darren khan on Why the Queensland Cup is great I'd love to see a station like 4BC cover the QLD Cup. Local stations in Perth and Adelaide cover the local Aussie Rules ... more
- cherie alexander on NRL Predicitions Hi Peter,I wonder how Dean Ritchie and Anthony Whatmough feel today about the"old" N0.6 who Captains The Maroons. The scarey ... more
- Terry on Why the Queensland Cup is great Peter I would go but my team the mighty Wests Panthers don't exist anymore however I am a regular watcher on the ABC. I am ... more
- Brian on Why the Queensland Cup is great Great article Peter, the QRL is the life blood of the NRL so it should be promoted as that. Go along to any intrust game on ... more
- stu on Why the Queensland Cup is great sad to see that 4BC are totally focused on the NRL. a fleeting mention is made from time to time on other codes but the ... more
- Trevor Kelso on Why the Queensland Cup is great That is the best article I have read in a long while regarding the Greatest Game of All. I love my local footy, but because ... more
- Dave Heras on Why the Queensland Cup is great Great blog there Peter. I will never forgive myself for drifting away from the BRL comp in the early 90's and supporting the ... more
- Matt on Why the Queensland Cup is great Here here Peter. I have been going along to most Souths Logan home games for the last couple of years and it is great, I can ... more
Blame the officials, not Thurston…
What about the argument surrounding Johnathan Thurston’s actions in the Cowboys loss to Manly on Saturday night. For the record I’ll back Johnathan until the cows come home on this one.
There are a number of issues to talk about here.
One is the inept performance once again by the officials controlling the game at Dairy Farmers. The forward pass which tipped JT over the edge on Saturday night was a shocking call. Whether the ball was forward or not is immaterial. The call came from the touch judge on the far side of the field, some 60 metres away from the incident. One week into a sponsorship with OPSM and the touchies think they can see everything. To me a forward pass is a simple rule to police. You simply have to look at the hands of the passer to see where they are facing. The tackle, momentum and wind etc all come into play. All of a sudden this official can see that and take everything into account from 60 metres away. What a joke, in the heat of battle Thurston was right to show his disappointment. Remember he never once used foul language directed personally at the referee Jason Robinson. The incident showed how much of a competitor Thurston is.
You also have to remember this occurred 5 minutes after the Cowboys had a fair try disallowed when Matt Bowen was deemed to have dropped the ball in the lead up to the try. The only problem is Bowen was nowhere near the ball. In that instance the video referee should have been called into play. In my opinion the outbursts of emotion we saw on Saturday night were down to the officials who in my opinion should be stood down this weekend.
We have now seen a number of games in recent weeks decided by officials. Enough is enough. I spoke with Tim Sheens following the game where the Tigers were robbed against the Roosters. He is fed up. I know of other coaches who have given up asking Robert Finch for clarifications on rulings because they have lost confidence in those running the referees.
Make no mistake; the Cowboys were their own worst enemies on Saturday night in failing to convert a number of opportunities. But with the level of officiating at the level it is at the moment we are going to have more instances of this in the future. Players and supporters alike deserve better.
As for Johnathan Thurston, my advice to him is not to change anything. I think his competitiveness and thirst for success is something to admire. Having watched him closely over the past few weeks I think JT is growing into not only a great footballer but an even better captain. You never know – he maybe even a future leader at representative level.
Blog comments
-
I was at the game also. I haven't see a crowd so angry with the officials except maybe after Steve Price was knocked out at Origin last year. Get it right ref's!
Grace Tuesday 1 June, 2010 - 1:29 PM -
what an absolute joke you are Peter. JT is a disgrace to the game. I have a 9 year old grandson who idolizes the NRL players and what a disgusting example JT has displayed to all the young children who look up to the likes of JT. What would people be saying if it was Paul Gallen or Greg Bird or Anthony Whatmow??? JT is a foul mouthed disgrace who has run foul of the establishment before this. Has everyone forgotton the sordid trouble he was in when he played for the Bulldogs? It's about time players like him were made accountable. He should have been suspended for much longer. How are we ever going to attract decent young men to referee when they cop abuse like he handed out.
denise Tuesday 1 June, 2010 - 3:44 AM -
Pistol,
I love you like a brother mate but on this one you are totally wrong. Every team has bad decisions go their way and also against them at times in a match. It's part of sport and the human element that comes into refereeing a match. As someone who has refereed a sport at a state level, can i say that there wouldn't be a single referee who goes out there with the intention of making a bad call. It's part of playing sport that you always accept the final decision of the officials and what kind of example is Thurston setting carrying on like he did?? Not a very good one mate. He has to realise that life goes on and making a song and dance will never ever change a decision that is made. It is hard enough to get people to become referees/umpires as we know and seeing something like this happen will not help the cause whatsoever. And finally for the record the call on that final try was 100% correct. How they came to that decision is insignificant as far as i'm concerned. As long as the correct decision is made i don't care where the call came from.....
Goldo6681 Monday 31 May, 2010 - 5:26 PM -
I love the way he reacted an the way he carries himself on the field .. no many halfs in the game control their team like Thurston does ...
hes the best in the game by a mile
shotgun Monday 31 May, 2010 - 1:27 PM -
I was at the game and the crowd was just as angry and perplexed to the ref's dessions as was JT and his team. There were just the most stupid and indefensible calls ever. He was so driven to win he tried his heart out, to be robbed by the refs. What a discrace we are talking about the refs again !!
Gaven Monday 31 May, 2010 - 1:22 PM
