Monday Buzz: How NRL experts all got it wrong on Cowboys, Referees receive death threats

After four years of bottom four finishes many tipped the Cowboys to run last in 2022. But their transformation into premiership contenders has been remarkable, writes Phil Rothfield.

At the beginning of the year, News Corp rugby league experts were asked to pick their NRL top eight and wooden spooners.

Eight of us nominated the North Queensland Cowboys not just to miss the eight, but to finish 16th.

Michael Carayannis, Paul Kent, David Riccio, Nick Walshaw, Fatima Kdouh, James Phelps, Dennis Ritchie and your columnist all tipped them to run stone motherless.

No one had the Cowboys anywhere near the top eight.

A first-round loss to Canterbury on their home ground in Townsville indicated we were on the money.

They were flogged 28-4 by the Roosters three weeks later then beaten 25-24 by the Warriors.

Not surprisingly the TAB had them at $101 to win the premiership.

Even those odds looked ‘unders’.

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The Cowboys have defied the doubters (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

On Sunday I listened back to coach Todd Payten’s press conference after the Warriors loss. He described it as a “horror show”.

We all thought Payten was off with the playing group.

That Chad Townsend was a dud buy as halfback and co-captain.

What has followed since is quite remarkable.

In the last three weeks they have claimed two of the top scalps in the game – Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels.

They haven’t just beaten them, they flogged them.

The combined score line from those two games is 71-10. This is not a misprint. 71-10.

It was the Cowboys’ sixth straight win, their streak since 2015. Their past five wins have all been by 20 points or more.

On Friday the Cowboys travel to Penrith to take on the premiers.

This is the 6pm game because when the TV networks were choosing their weekend schedules late last year they thought this would be a nothing game.

It’s proof that not just the journos got the Cowboys wrong.

They are a terrific football side and Friday evening is shaping up as the game of the year.

NRL ACTS AS TWO REFEREES COP DEATH THREATS

Two NRL referees have received death threats this season, prompting commission chairman Peter V’landys to appeal to critics and fans to back off after another weekend of controversy.

News Corp can reveal one man was charged by police over a death threat last month, forcing the NRL to increase security at matches.

“They were credible death threats,” V’landys said. “And we’re not going to tolerate it.

“These referees are like all of us, they’ve got kids and they’ve got families.

“They are also human beings in a workplace.

Peter V'landys has backed NRL referees. Picture: NRL Images

“Rugby league is all about tribalism and a bit of banter and arguing about refs has been part of the game for years and years.

“But you can’t go overboard. Give them a fair go, it’s a tough job.”

The weekend has raised more questions about the bunker.

In Newcastle on Thursday night they missed an obvious obstruction that allowed the Broncos to score a crucial try against the Newcastle Knights (video below).

There was more controversy 24 hours later when Manly coach Des Hasler went ballistic after his winger Christian Tuipulotu was penalised for a try-saving tackle on Eels winger Hayze Perham that was ruled as a high shot. The Eels scored and won the game (video above).

V’landys is ignoring calls by some critics to get rid of the bunker.

“Imagine if we didn’t have a bunker,” V’landys said.

V’landys raised the blunder at the Nines tournament two years ago in which Dragons winger Cody Ramsey was awarded a try when he clearly planted the ball into touch.

“Penrith was beaten because we didn’t have a bunker. Everyone saw on TV that it wasn’t a try. Without a bunker that would be happening more often.”

The independent commission boss says match officials will always make mistakes.

Like players, coaches, officials and all of us.

“We all make mistakes, most of us every day of the week,” he said.

“At least 98 per cent of their decisions are right.

“They get two percent of their decisions wrong which shows they are human.

“Imagine if you got 98 out of 100 in an exam and people were critical of you.

“I used to get 50 out of a hundred. It’s not right.”

There is also a concern at the NRL that the constant criticism is affecting the recruitment of referees in the junior ranks.

Not just at NRL level but from over-the-top sideline parents in park football.

“Overall the referees do a great job,” V’landys said.

“I can understand people saying it’s become too forensic with the bunker.

“But then they get criticised if they miss the most minor of infringements.

“Look at today’s technology. You can have 20 cameras at a game providing every angle.

“They are applying the rules as they see it. You can’t have it both ways.

“They’d be more mistakes without the bunker I can guarantee you.”

Originally published as Monday Buzz: How NRL experts all got it wrong on Cowboys, Referees receive death threats