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TOUGH CALL LEADS TO VIDEO REF QUESTIONS
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Wests Tigers Toyota Cup Coach Grant Jones says it may be time for the video referee system to be used in Grand Finals.
Speaking at the post match press conference following the 24-22 loss to the Melbourne Storm, Jones didn’t mix his words when reporters asked his thoughts on whether full-back Gareth Widdop had scored in the 74th minute to level at 22-22 all.Widdop then converted his own try to give the Storm the lead, and in the end, the premiership.
Widdop followed through a grubber kick to score with the try being awarded by the referee. A replay showed that Widdop had not grounded the ball clearly with his hand.
“I didn’t get a real good look at that forcing of the ball down but the people around me had a few raised eyebrows when the referee awarded the try given they had an in-goal judge as well,’’ Jones said.
When asked whether he would have liked to seen a video referee ruling on it, Jones was straight to the point.
“They (the two officials) are five metres away from it. You don’t need a video referee for that. Well, if it means the difference between winning a premiership and losing one, the answer then is yes.
“From what I’m hearing, as at the time I was looking at something else and didn’t have a good look, there is a consensus that that might not have been a try.”
Wests Tigers Captain Darren Nicholls shared a similar view.
“A few of the boys who were around the ball said it was a knock-on and when we saw the replays, it was a bit disheartening,’ Nicholls said.
“You are going to get calls that can go against you in every game of footy. I thought he touched it and knocked it on.”
Nicholls said the side dug deep to come back from an 18-10 half-time deficit midway through the second half.
“All year we have been a good second half side but credit to Melbourne, they held us out and we didn’t play as smart as we could. We couldn’t finish it off,’’ Nicholls said.
Jones was questioned as to how far full-back Jake Mullaney was away from the NRL after another influential game. His two tries saw him take his tally to 29 tries in 27 matches.
“When’s round one,’’ Jones said, bluntly.
“Jake has scored 21 tries in his last 10 games and over 300 points. He has just grown in confidence at the back end of the season.
“The way he catches high balls meant he was a little bit dusty at the beginning of the year but he has plenty of confidence now in catching high balls, his defence is better and his attack is outstanding.”
Although beaten, Wests Tigers should again be in for a big 2010 as a large majority of the squad will return next season under Jones. Andrew Fifita, Robert Lui, Aaron Woods, Jason Schirnack and Simon Dwyer are in the Wests Tigers NRL squad.
“We are also hoping four or five of the players will be doing part time training with the NRL squad as well. Tim Sheens is pretty excited about their prospects,’’ Jones said.
“We are very proud of the season the boys have had. Even in the game today, they showed plenty of courage and resolve to get back midway through the second half. They have been like that all year. If they had a setback, they always bounced back the following week.
“It is a credit to them.’’
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Wests Tigers Toyota Cup Coach Grant Jones says it may be time for the video referee system to be used in Grand Finals.
Speaking at the post match press conference following the 24-22 loss to the Melbourne Storm, Jones didn’t mix his words when reporters asked his thoughts on whether full-back Gareth Widdop had scored in the 74th minute to level at 22-22 all.Widdop then converted his own try to give the Storm the lead, and in the end, the premiership.
Widdop followed through a grubber kick to score with the try being awarded by the referee. A replay showed that Widdop had not grounded the ball clearly with his hand.
“I didn’t get a real good look at that forcing of the ball down but the people around me had a few raised eyebrows when the referee awarded the try given they had an in-goal judge as well,’’ Jones said.
When asked whether he would have liked to seen a video referee ruling on it, Jones was straight to the point.
“They (the two officials) are five metres away from it. You don’t need a video referee for that. Well, if it means the difference between winning a premiership and losing one, the answer then is yes.
“From what I’m hearing, as at the time I was looking at something else and didn’t have a good look, there is a consensus that that might not have been a try.”
Wests Tigers Captain Darren Nicholls shared a similar view.
“A few of the boys who were around the ball said it was a knock-on and when we saw the replays, it was a bit disheartening,’ Nicholls said.
“You are going to get calls that can go against you in every game of footy. I thought he touched it and knocked it on.”
Nicholls said the side dug deep to come back from an 18-10 half-time deficit midway through the second half.
“All year we have been a good second half side but credit to Melbourne, they held us out and we didn’t play as smart as we could. We couldn’t finish it off,’’ Nicholls said.
Jones was questioned as to how far full-back Jake Mullaney was away from the NRL after another influential game. His two tries saw him take his tally to 29 tries in 27 matches.
“When’s round one,’’ Jones said, bluntly.
“Jake has scored 21 tries in his last 10 games and over 300 points. He has just grown in confidence at the back end of the season.
“The way he catches high balls meant he was a little bit dusty at the beginning of the year but he has plenty of confidence now in catching high balls, his defence is better and his attack is outstanding.”
Although beaten, Wests Tigers should again be in for a big 2010 as a large majority of the squad will return next season under Jones. Andrew Fifita, Robert Lui, Aaron Woods, Jason Schirnack and Simon Dwyer are in the Wests Tigers NRL squad.
“We are also hoping four or five of the players will be doing part time training with the NRL squad as well. Tim Sheens is pretty excited about their prospects,’’ Jones said.
“We are very proud of the season the boys have had. Even in the game today, they showed plenty of courage and resolve to get back midway through the second half. They have been like that all year. If they had a setback, they always bounced back the following week.
“It is a credit to them.’’
