was the ref the worst official we have ever seen?

[TonyH]

Lets not forget that Australia were poor, had their best player go off with a broken collar bone early on and still managed to put nearly 40 points on us.

The weak link is Sinfield and not having two props on the bench.

[cpwigan]

Unfortunately we do not either have or do not select the playmakers that knit everything together. Leeds achieved far more attacking wise when they had Burrow on the field often part way through games to enable Sinfield to be a third playmaker. Chase is an individualist, an off the cuff stand off that likes to weave his magic out wide. Chase and Sinfield both predominantly wide, second pass recipients is not going to work. I have no idea if Widdop would be better. The time for testing such theories was in the first 2 games. One can only surmise why it never happened.

[OJ]

I too thought Williams was lucky to get away with the tackle on Ben Westwood yesterday but am now having to think again and have another look after just reading this article in sporting life - something to bear in mind for next season as well.

England forward Ben Westwood has confessed to play-acting over the incident that enraged coach Steve McNamara during his side's 36-20 Gillette Four Nations defeat by Australia at Wembley.

McNamara insisted Kangaroos substitute Tony Williams should have been sent off for the high tackle that floored the Warrington second rower six minutes into the second half with the game in the balance.

Instead the 22-year-old Manly Sea Eagles forward was placed on report by referee Henry Perenara and the incident will be studied on Monday by an international match-review panel which will decide whether to press charges.

Williams' chances of missing the November 19 final through suspension could be helped by Westwood's surprise confession, which was made to reporters in the tunnel immediately after the match.

"It was a bit of play-acting," he said. "I looked up and started smiling, then I put the act on. It's part and parcel of the game."

When told slow-motion replays indicated Williams' arm had caught him flush on the side of his head, Westwood added: "Apparently so but I'm all right and I felt all right at the time.

"I'll probably see it next time we're in camp. I forgot to put in on tape.

"If it was a high shot, I'm sure the disciplinary will have a look at it and decide what they want to do with it."

McNamara clearly believes action needs to be taken and he was equally adamant the 31-year-old Perenara, a New Zealander in charge of only his second Test match, blundered again a minute after the Williams incident by disallowing a try to Tom Briscoe.

Perenara ruled the Hull winger had made a double movement, even though the elbow of his ball-carrying arm had not touched the ground, with McNamara and the 42,344 crowd screaming for the official to consult video referee Ian Smith after watching the incident on the big screen.

"I didn't see it, I was too busy asking for the video ref," said Briscoe. "I was a little disappointed he didn't refer it.

"My elbow didn't touch the floor and I just reached out and put it over so. He saw it a different way and it's his decision at the end of the day. It's happened and I can't change it."

Trailing 18-8 at the time, the gap could have been down to just four points but Briscoe refused to blame the referee's decision for the defeat.

"It could have been a turning point but we made enough mistakes for that not to count and put us in that situation," he said. "It was down to our own fault in the end."

McNamara, who was convinced Perenara had been affected by Australia's criticism of Warrington official Phil Bentham after their opening match against New Zealand, expressed his disappointment that the performance of referees rather than players was once more the main talking point.

The controversy overshadowed an impressive England performance, highlighted by two superbly-finished first-half tries from Leeds winger Ryan Hall, which came despite losing three of their key forwards to injury.

James Graham and Gareth Ellis went off with back injuries before half-time, which forced captain Jamie Peacock to heroically return to the field despite suffering damage to his knee.

"I saw him crumble in that tackle and I knew something wasn't right," said Peacock's club captain Kevin Sinfield.

"But to lose three big blokes made life very tough for us and, for Jamie to put some strapping on and come back out like he did, just shows the warrior he is.

"He is our leader and playing for his country means so much to him."

England battled to the end and were rewarded with further tries by NRL-based duo Jack Reed, who continued to impress at centre, and Chris Heighington.

In the end they paid the price for a series of defensive errors but did enough to suggest they could get the better of Australia in the final, as long they get past New Zealand in their crucial final group game at Hull next Saturday.

"We hung in there and put in a good performance," Briscoe added. "We obviously lost and we know we've got a lot to work on still.

"But we improved on last week and we'll improve again for New Zealand next week."

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480

[bourbon_rat]

Hmm ? Was going to post that article

Interesting what they coach is "Part n Parcel of the game" these days over at Wire :doz:

[First Try Tickle]

The problem we have with this guy is that most people just think he's a NZ referee, but if you check out his history its all NRL. After begining his career in the NRL with NZ Warriors, he then went on the play for Melbourne, St George, Parramatta and Cronula. In 2007 he retired to take up refing and officiated his first ever match this year.

He will know all the Aussie guy really well and will have been spoken to before the 4 nations started.

Its equivilent of asking Jonathan Davies to ref the match just because he's welsh. The aussies just wouldn't have it and if we get to the final we should say the same.

As for the match, it was a different view being there. It was evident from the word go that he spoke with the aussies different than the English lads. After both dodgy decisions he really listned to Lockyer's view but then didn't listed to the linesmen.

But the worst thing was, he took England back 13 metres at the play the ball, but the Aussies less than 10. Everyone around us noticed this and were complaining, it was just so obvious. This meant the aussies had much more room, but they were in our faces as soon as we got the ball.

Bring on Hallibut.

[rdownes9]

I was there saturday and how the hell can you have an official reffing an international when he's only been referring first class rugby one season. That is shocking.

Start of the second half, he got the Briscoe incdent totally wrong. Could have used the video ref to make sure he got the decision right, like Bentham did at Old Trafford Its what he's there for so why not use him.

The high tackle was a shocker. Doesn't matter whether Westwood 'play acted', take the tackle on its own merits, it was high and extremely dangerous. Should have been sin bin at the very least.

The Aussies were repeatedly guilty of holding down after the tackle, and it rarely got punished.

I just thought he got big decisions wrong that could have potentially changed the game. He's not experienced enough to be handling games of this size, its a massive error on the part of the RFL.

[exile in Tiger country]

Lets not forget that Australia were poor, had their best player go off with a broken collar bone early on and still managed to put nearly 40 points on us.

The weak link is Sinfield and not having two props on the bench.

Not while Lockyer is still playing he isn't.

[bourbon_rat]

Lets not forget that Australia were poor, had their best player go off with a broken collar bone early on and still managed to put nearly 40 points on us.

The weak link is Sinfield and not having two props on the bench.

Not while Lockyer is still playing he isn't.

:conf: I think Lockyer's had a fairly quiet time so far & it looks like he'll be 'rested' against Wales.
Let's just say with Slater out the Roos are missing a very important defender / attacking weapon

The Wales v Australia game is likely to be a bashfest,which with decreased numbers in the Aust squad, will be to the advantage of whomever they play in the Final.

[TonyH]

Lets not forget that Australia were poor, had their best player go off with a broken collar bone early on and still managed to put nearly 40 points on us.

The weak link is Sinfield and not having two props on the bench.

Not while Lockyer is still playing he isn't.

Lockyer, whilst he has been a tremendous player is not the best player in the Kangaroos squad anymore.