NRL calls out ‘rubbish’ ref critics

There were several crucial calls in the NRL and NRLW that earned the ire of coaches, commentators and fans, with Annesley conceding the officials missed a Liam Martin error in the lead up to a Penrith try just before half-time against Manly.

But he was adamant the officials got some other major calls right including a South Sydney try when it looked like several players were offside, as well as a penalty against Dragons fullback Teagan Berry in their thrilling NRLW loss to Canberra.

Annesley said he had no issue with people questioning decisions but he wants it done in a more measured way rather than people blowing up at the officials when the decision may have actually been correct.

“All I ask is for it (the criticism) to be measured,” he said.

“This game has this unique history and habit of zoning in on one decision by an official and (saying) ‘that’s why we lost the game’.

“Frankly, it’s rubbish.

“If an official makes a decision that costs the team the game then I’ll be the first one here saying if the decision was wrong.

“In decisions where it depends what colour eyes you’re looking at it through as to whether you agree or disagree – and that’s most decisions in our game – there will be divided opinion.

“To come out publicly and say ‘that was wrong and that single decision cost us the game’, I think is way over the top.

“It’s happened in our game for a long time, but I don’t think it’s fair.”

The missed knock-on for the Panthers try came at a crucial period just before half-time with Manly’s season on the line, with the Bunker unable to review the call given a player was tackled before Stephen Crichton scored on the next play.

The Bunker has the power to go back to penalise people for acts of foul play but can only rule on what’s happened after the play the ball when it comes to try-scoring opportunities.

“You can say that we should go back two tackles and then suddenly something happens in the tackle before that and people will ask why we can’t look at anything in that set,” Annesley said.

“You could then have something blatant in the set before so it’s a question of how far do you go back.

“It’s different in our code compared to some others where ours is as much as possible about continuity so we don’t want to go back several plays.”

Annesley also defended the match officials for the decision to award Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker a try when it appeared as though several South Sydney players were in front of Lachlan Ilias when he put up a kick.

Tallis Duncan was called out of the play by the touch judge who ruled Latrell Mitchell to have been behind Ilias.

One camera angle suggested the chasers were offside, but another told a different story which is why the Bunker had to support the on-field ruling.

“I’m not saying without any question that they are both onside or offside. I just simply cannot tell,” Annesley said when looking at Mitchell and Walker in the chase.

“For the Bunker to overturn this decision of try – remembering they’ve got a touch judge who’s right in line saying Latrell is onside – they just can’t do it. It’s impossible.

“So to say that this is an incorrect decision and roundly criticise the officials for this decision is completely unfair.”

The other major talking point came in the NRLW when Berry was penalised for a double movement despite her arm never touching the ground.

Annesley showed replays on Monday afternoon where you could hear referee Kasey Badger yell ‘held’ before the speedy fullback fell over the line to ground the ball.

Dragons coach Jamie Soward argued his player should have been able to simply go back and play the ball as you’d normally see anywhere else on the field.

“Technically it’s a double movement. Everything changes when you get to the in-goal area,” Annesley said.

“If you take that back 10 metres and a player falls and the ball moves further in front of them as they do that then they get up and play the ball.

“If they move forward as a result of the momentum of the tackle then the referee will send them back, but when you get to the in-goal area and four points are on the line (it’s a penalty).”

Originally published as ‘It’s rubbish’: Annesley hits back at referee criticism, defends crucial calls from controversial weekend