Fresh twist in Tigers saga: Holmes should’ve been penalised for illegal kick-off

Tigerwould

Tigerwould

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Fresh twist in Tigers saga: Holmes should’ve been penalised for illegal kick-off

The NRL has admitted the call that cost the Tigers a stunning win was wrong. Now they have another problem.
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As the Wests Tigers await a response from the NRL over the drama that surrounded the controversial finish to Sunday’s game, a fresh twist to the saga has riled the frustrated club.

The Herald can reveal Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes should have been penalised for an illegal kick-off in the moments leading up to the controversial obstruction that decided the game.

To compound the issue, Wests Tigers skipper James Tamou tried to use their captain’s challenge to expose the breach of the rules but referee Chris Butler would not allow him the opportunity to do so.
Under the Rugby League Laws of the Game, it states: “A player who kicks off or drops-out shall be penalised if he advances in front of the appropriate line before kicking the ball”.

After the Cowboys were successful in their contentious challenge, Tamou approached referee Butler.
“Can I challenge that?” Tamou asks

“You can’t challenge the bunker,” Butler responds.

“Challenge offside, I have a spare challenge,” Tamou said.

They already cleared that, mate,” Butler then says.

Earlier on Monday the NRL admitted the bunker got it wrong with the contentious escort call that denied the Wests Tigers what would have been a stunning win over North Queensland on Sunday.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley has stood firm in the belief the Cowboys were within their rights to issue a captain’s challenge on the last play of the game, but conceded the final call made by the bunker was incorrect.


had run winger Kyle Feldt off the ball from a kick-off with one second remaining on the clock. No penalty was awarded on the field but North Queensland captain Chad Townsend was allowed a challenge.

Bunker official Ashley Klein then opted to award a penalty to North Queensland, in turn giving Valentine Holmes a shot at a match-winning penalty goal, in a decision that has left Tigers officials seething.
“We’re just not satisfied there is enough in that incident to warrant the decision of the bunker to award a penalty,” Annesley said.
“Yes, there was contact, yes, there was a collision. We believe the Wests Tigers players involved was heading towards the ball, he didn’t look over his shoulder to see who was coming behind him. Yes, he ran a slightly strange line to head towards the ball but he was heading towards the ball.
“These are matters of judgement for the officials, but on review this morning we just don’t believe there was enough in that to award a penalty. The captain’s challenge, at that point, should have been dismissed by the bunker as an unsuccessful challenge.”
Annesley remained adamant the Cowboys were within their rights to challenge, despite no call being made by the referee on the field.

















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Jesus Christ. At first, I was hesitant to label what I saw yesterday as the worst refereeing decision I had seen, but with all that is now known I am certain that it is. For them to have gotten all of those decisions wrong in that space of time is quite astounding and probably will not be replicated for a long time. Definitely the worst officiating display to date.

1. First, there was the issue with the clock. Now, I'm not too savvy with the rules surrounding how long a kicker has so I'm not going to comment on the matter
2. Next, it was the contentious way in which the Cowboys were able to challenge the play. The referee blew his whistle after Laurie had been tackled to create a stoppage in play. Now, Annesley states that this whistle blown was not to signal full time. One must ask then, what was the whistle for? What was Butler stopping the play for if not for full time? Laurie had caught the ball, conceded the tackle, and Butler had already cleared the obstruction. The only reason Butler had to blow his whistle was to signal full-time, or for a penalty for the escort in which only the Tigers were allowed to put forth a captain's challenge. The Cowboys had no right to challenge anything as there should have never been a stoppage in play at all.
3. The bunker's decision to award a penalty for the escort was shocking. An absolute dud call. Kepaoa ran infield from touch, towards the ball and only had eyes for the ball. At the point of contact he was running a light jog towards the ball, never changing direction, turning his head, or slowing down. Feldt sprinted full pace into the back of Kepaoa causing a collision by which both of the players had been contacted.
4. The bunker cleared all players as being onside, and yet did not see Holmes' foot clearly infront of the line? If a player took a drop out infront of the line it would easily be picked up on review. That should have been spotted first and completely disregarded everything that happened afterwards. To add even more to this, Tamou was outright denied his challenge towards the offside ruling

I don't think we'll ever see as many officiating howlers in the space of 90 seconds ever again
 
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As far as the kicker being over the line, it happens basically every kick. Once in a blue moon they might ping it
 
It’s done the NRL won’t even address this as they have had their 45 minute press conference with Annesley. It’s all complete rubbish and they are making it up as they go but we all know the punishment.
Officials involved- 1 week off
Everyone else - you get what you get and you don’t get upset

I’ve never felt so let down after a game before but the NRL have put a full stop against this and nothing will change that
 
The NRL have not made changes for the better in the 3 years. The media and NRL have there agendas
 
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I’ve seen commentary that Annesleys interpretation has created a precedent to afford players the opportunity to appeal passages of play not picked up by officials...except Tamou tried this and his appeal was rejected without review based solely on the referees opinion.
Townsend was allowed to request a review but Tamou was not.
Corrupt.
 
What a ripper. Well that's a line decision clear cut.

Also just watching the replays on NRL 360 and I feel Feldt should've also have been penalised for obstructing Kepoa.

Also, watching the referee after the short whistle he get coached by the bunker to look for Townsend ,kind of looking for a way to give it to the Cowboys .

Footnote;

Way back in 1980 Ron Giteau playing for the top of the table Magpies would routinely kick off short starting off from wrong side of half way and Rex Mossop RIP would continuously bring it up as he being offside. Never remember Wests being penalised but Rex would endlessly go on about it so it's not a new rule.
 
Well said. I hope the players aren’t kicking stones like the fans, they should be back into training how to play like they did against the cowgirls every game and then some of those decisions will go our way.
 
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