NRL in damage control after more bunker controversy and five-day turnaround fury

JUST 10 days into his new gig and it’s fair to say the honeymoon is over for Todd Greenberg — and his $2 million bunker.

Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys argues with the ref during the NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys. Pic Darren England

JUST 10 days into his new gig and it’s fair to say the honeymoon is over for Todd Greenberg — and his $2 million bunker that was supposed to deliver world peace to rugby league.

Instead the NRL is again in damage control after some wonderful Easter footy action was marred by more refereeing controversy, and five-day turnaround fury.

FIVE-DAY FARCE

It’s too late for the NRL to fix what they stuffed up last year.

Offering teams help with accommodation costs when faced with five-day turnarounds is as good as a slap in the face, given players were locked out of negotiations before the draw was released.

At the time RLPA boss Clint Newton was furious they didn’t so much as reduce the amount of five-day turnarounds, but increased them.

Last week the NRL sent out a media release stating “a range of measures in order to assist player wellbeing”.

What that basically meant is they would cover extra accommodation costs on interstate travel, and give teams a physio to help with recovery.

Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans goes off injured against the Roosters. Picture Gregg Porteous

For all the good that will do Manly this week, given they play Souths at home. Understandably Trent Barrett was miffed by the solution: “A comfy bed? Mmm. That will make a difference.”

Manly’s longtime media man Peter Peters on Sunday continued the attack, calling for the immediate introduction of unlimited interchange for teams facing a short back-up.

That’s never going to happen.

But the NRL cannot pretend this isn’t a major issue they could have avoided, with proper consultation.

Of the six teams so far this year backing up from five-day turnarounds, only Manly and the Cowboys have won their games.

Souths coach Michael Maguire refused to blame Good Friday’s capitulation on the short back-up. But anyone who watched the game knows the Rabbitohs were lifeless as the Bulldogs raced in 32 unanswered points in the opening 30 minutes.

Canterbury scored 32 unanswered points in 30 minutes against the Rabbitohs.

SUFFICIENT STUPIDITY

Okay, we understand referees can never get all the calls right. But why persist with making on field refs look through a crystal ball before sending a decision to the bunker?

After all, it was Greenberg who promised “zero” video refereeing mistakes because of his $2 million investment.

Try telling that to Paul Green, Wayne Bennett, Ricky Stuart and Trent Robinson on Monday.

Refs boss Tony Archer admitted the bunker got the Matt Gillett “no try” decision wrong on Friday night, but held his ground on Johnathan Thurston’s no try.

Refs boss Tony Archer says Matt Gillett’s no try was the wrong decision.

Then the Gold Coast’s John Olive was awarded a match-clinching try when the touch judge declared he saw the ball grounded against Canberra.

That touchie must have been wearing supersonic lenses, because every camera angle indicated there was no possible way of determining if the ball touched the ground.

Jarrod Croker speaks with Referee Henry Perenara over try awarded to John Olive.

And the Roosters were point blank robbed with the Mitch Aubusson off-side decision.

But because of this “sufficient” evidence boloney, the system continues to fail technology.

As Andrew Johns explained on Channel Nine, what’s the point of making referees guess when it automatically puts a grenade inside the bunker?

Mitch Aubusson was ruled to be off-side in this play.

Some people remain convinced it is better to have the on field ref making a decision.

But why not allow it to go to the bunker first, without influence.

If they can’t determine it, send it back to the ref.

You’ve lost nothing in the process.

Originally published as NRL in damage control after more bunker controversy and five-day turnaround fury