Quote ="Mild Rover"To be fair I've seen worse decisions, that I believe to be simply terrible refereeing. Gansongate 2013 springs to mind as a Hull KR fan. A lot of Rovers fans thought that was suspicious, but I just couldn't see a motive. It was just cack.
That might be the case here, and tbf this was a good deal less cack. It was just a fingertip (which admittedly he saw, while observing the correct player ffs). What makes it toxic was that, in addition to being crucial it was made by Aussie officials the Aussies had insisted on. To call it corrupt is a step too far for me, but it certainly invites cynicism.'"
Happy: I hope you will accept apologies for the delay in replying, been away.
The second paragraph by 'Mild Rover', is spot on and the wording does perfectly describe what can only be seen as a very dubious and stupid error on behalf of all of the Southern-Hemi officials that voted for the refereeing situation that was imposed, it reeked before the game and due to what went on eventually the stench got worse.
I have stated previously that: the ref appointment was bad enough in itself; but to then compound that with a single entity VR; who it turns out is also the BROTHER of the on-field ref, could do nothing less than display that an Australian win was paramount, however, or no matter, how that was to be achieved!
It is simply human nature to suspect and claim that a conspiracy theory was in operation and anyone denying that is deluding themselves.
Now Happy, I will admit to the still pictures having a very strong case for your assessment of arriving at the evidence of Hall scoring being accurate, but as I originally said, these are stills and the evidence of the incident in movement, ie Video, is not in anyway as conclusive, to me it isn't.
But I am accepting your view and will concede that on the stills photo's there does seem to be room for arguing your case.
However I would have to argue that having yet again watched the game, I still, as the ref, would not have gone any further than to immedietly have given a drop out, as I would still have seen it as no try. That is what I find evident and cannot alter that view.
I also will reiterate that we gave the game away in the second half, and for that have only ourselves to blame for this situation ever having been a contentionable aspect of the end result.
The Aussie explanations that followed are both ludicrous and wide open to criticism of the highest and, to the deepest degree and, that the cheating aspect was bound to follow.
The NRL has dug itself an hole and it will be many a day before this is forgotten and correctly so. The entire episode was corrupt and it was of those S/H officials making, for that they deserve all the criticism and opprobrium going.
