Sport Confidential: Fresh Bunker controversy as Sharks denied golden point penalty against Tigers
The Sharks went down in dramatic fashion against the Tigers in round eight, but footage shows Cronulla should have been awarded a golden point penalty which would have all but guaranteed them victory instead.
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Cronulla have been told they should have been awarded a golden point penalty which would have all but guaranteed them victory against the Tigers last Sunday.
The Sharks lost the match in dramatic fashion when the Tigers were given a penalty of their own in golden point after a Tom Hazleton strip which allowed Adam Doueihi to slot the penalty goal through the posts in the 89th minute.
But the NRL have told the Sharks it perhaps should not have got that far. Instead Cronulla should have been gifted a penalty next to the uprights which Nicho Hynes would have converted with ease to give Cronulla their own two-point in.
Hynes had been lining up for an 82nd minute field goal from about 14 metres out. He was given the pass by hooker Blayke Brailey before being charged down by Alex Seyfarth and Jahream Bula as a desperate Tigers side tried to shut down the play.
Seyfarth was standing at marker but replays have since shown that he was not square which would have resulted in a regulation penalty attempt for Hynes to give Cronulla victory.
Whilst the matter was missed live by on-field referee Grant Atkins, the bunker had an opportunity to review the play after Bula and Will Kennedy were involved in a scrappy play to try and get the ball back which led to a captain’s challenge being called.
Liam Kennedy was in the bunker and could have made the ruling that Cronulla should have been gifted a penalty goal.
Cronulla did miss five field goal attempts in the match before Doueihi’s penalty goal.
Kennedy will referee the Rabbitohs and Newcastle match on Saturday but is not in the bunker this weekend.
MAROONS LINK: WALKER ROLLS OUT ROOSTERS WELCOME MAT FOR DCE
Sydney Roosters superstar Sam Walker has dismissed suggestions that his development could be impeded if Daly Cherry-Evans arrives at the club, insisting instead that the Queensland captain can help make him a better player.
Cherry-Evans has been widely tipped to join the Roosters, prompting Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould to claim that his arrival could hamper Walker’s development as a game-managing half.
It is the second time Gould has made the claim - he said the same thing a few weeks ago when Cherry-Evans initially announced he was leaving Manly at the end of the season.
Walker has spent time in Queensland camp alongside Cherry-Evans and insists he can learn much from the Sea Eagles skipper.
“I think I know I can adapt to other footballers and like I said …. you never, ever turn your back on one of Queensland’s great footballers to come to our club,” Walker said.
“It’s obviously something that would be really exciting and something that us as a club would welcome with open arms.
“He’s obviously a great footballer and I’ve been in a Queensland camp with him before. He’s a great leader as well.
“Any chance you get to welcome someone of his caliber into a footy side, it would be exciting for myself.
“For myself personally, to sort of sit back and be able to watch the way he talks to the team and watch the way he prepares himself - he’s obviously the ultimate professional to play for as long as he has.
“He’s definitely done something right with his body. For me to be able to watch that and pick up little things that he does was a really good learning curve for myself.”
Walker is still about five weeks away from making his return from a knee injury, having missed the start of the season after undergoing surgery late last year.
In his absence, Sandon Smith produced arguably his best performance in a Roosters jersey on Anzac Day against St George Illawarra.
“That’s the way we know he can play,” Walker said.
“Sometimes you just need those games. Like I remember last year … I was up and down at the start of the year and then got through an Anzac game and had a really good game, and it sort of set me up for a really good year last year.
“I’m pretty confident that it’ll do the sort of a similar thing to Sando. It’ll give him a lot of confidence going into this week and hopefully the season ahead.”
PICTURE PERFECT SUNCORP
This is the proof that Suncorp Stadium is ready for its busiest weekend of the year.
Sport Confidential has obtained exclusive images of the pristine new playing surface at The Cauldron, which will host the first of nine games on Thursday night when Queensland and NSW meet in the opening game of the State women’s of Origin series.
Around 50 per cent of the playing surface was replaced this week to ensure the ground would be in good shape for Magic Round, which is one of the showpiece events on the rugby league calendar.
ABDO PREPARES FOR MAGIC ROUND SHOWDOWN WITH CLUB BOSSES
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo insists that the new WA expansion team will be at arm’s length to head office as he prepares for a Magic Round showdown with club bosses over the impact a new side will have on the existing teams.
The Perth bid has been one of the stories of the season but it shapes as a significant talking point when club bosses face off with the NRL in Brisbane on Friday.
It is understood the Perth bid will feature heavily in discussions. Sport Confidential can reveal that clubs want to know:
• How will the Commission manage the conflict of interest between owning and controlling the WA and PNG based franchises while also fulfilling its role as manager and regulator of the NRL;
• How will the commission handle the hyper-inflation of the market for players, coaches and performance staff;
• How will the commission respond to the dilution of the standard of the NRL competition;
• How will the NRL improve player development and supply; and
• What financial return will there be for the exiting clubs should the commission eventually sell ownership and control of the WA franchise to a private entity.
The meeting isn’t expected to be fiery but the clubs also want answers over how the decision was made to do a deal with the WA government without consulting them or their advisory committee.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo cleared some of the air when he spoke in Brisbane on the eve of Magic Round.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to clarify that this will be a club that will be owned by the members, and it will be controlled for the transition period by its own board, have its own chairman, own board and own CEO,” Abdo said.
“So it’s very much at arm’s length from the NRL and the Australian Rugby League commission - and after a transition period that will obviously then be a member-elected board.”
“We’ve we’ve been really clear from the start that the model of having a member-based entity or franchise is the way forward.
“Rugby league is a game of the people and this is an opportunity for the fans and the members of their club to have a say and to govern it.
“Ultimately we are not-for-profit.”
The clubs are believed to be supportive of expansion but they have genuine concerns over what it means for them. Some clubs understandably have more to lose than others. Melbourne, for example, have a handful of their biggest names coming off contract at the end of next season and the introduction of the Bears in 2027 has left them vulnerable.
No-one, though, is immune. Brisbane face a fight for Payne Haas. The Bulldogs have Reed Mahoney. The Sharks have Blayke Brailey and Jesse Ramien. The Dolphins have Herbie Farnworth.
Every club is ripe for the picking unless they can get their stars locked down by November 1. The fear is that the Perth and PNG bids will be forced to pay big money to sign players and coaches, driving wages through the roof.
BENNETT TUG OF WAR BEGINS
The NRL’s expansion plans are ready to ignite a fight over seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett. Sport Confidential understands that South Sydney are ready to dig in and fight for Bennett as they look to extend his deal and keep him out of the clutches of PNG.
Bennett is under contract for another two years, which means he us up for grabs when PNG come into the competition in 2028.
Souths, however, are open to extending Bennett’s deal in a bid to keep him at the Rabbitohs beyond 2027.
A three-year extension would mean Bennett potentially coaches into his 80s. The game’s greatest coach remains as sharp as ever and has shown no inclination to walk away from coaching.
WALKER’S ON
Sydney Roosters playmaker Sam Walker has been in Brisbane to help promote Magic Round but he will waste no time jumping on a plane on Saturday morning as he races back to Sydney to watch his younger brother Tyson play in the SG Ball grand final.
Tyson Walker, wearing the No.6 jersey, was part of the Roosters side that despatched Canberra in last week’s semifinal. Walker and the Roosters will face a Parramatta side featuring Ryda Talagi - brother of Penrith star Blaize - in the grand final.
Walker had plans to catch up with family while in Brisbane but changed his flight once his younger brother qualified for the grand final.
“It’s exciting for him,” Waker said.
“He’s worked really hard this year. Yet to lose a game actually this year for him. He’s played really good footy.
“I’m excited to see how he goes out the on Saturday. He’s a bit of a bigger body than I was sort of at that age. Definitely a better defender than I was at that age.”
Asked whether they had talked about playing together in the NRL one day, Walker said: “If I ever get the chance …. I’d be really excited to do it.”
STORM BACK STAR HALF TO STAY
Melbourne owner and chair Matt Tripp has a “gut instinct” that Jahrome Hughes will stay with the club amid speculation of a Perth bid for the Dally M medaLlist.
If Tripp can convince Hughes to stay, it could have ramifications for one of the club’s rising stars, half Jonah Pezet.
When Pezet agreed to an extension with the Storm last year it was on the understanding that if Hughes extended his deal, he would be allowed to explore the market.
It’s the same understanding that fullback SuA Fa’alogo is believed to have with the club should Ryan Papenhuyzen - another potential Perth recruit - extend his deal with the Storm.
Pezet has shown flashes of his ability but injuries have held him back over the past two years. Regardless, he would attract plenty of interest on the open market and he may head there too if Tripp’s confidence is matched by Hughes’ desire to remain in Melbourne.
“I don’t believe he will go anywhere,” Tripp said.
“Call it a gut instinct. I think it’s fair to say that Jahrome wants to be in the Melbourne and we want Jahrome to be in Melbourne.
“Both parties are pulling in the same direction, which is a good place to be.”
Stability will be the key for Melbourne in coming years as the club prepares for coach Craig Bellamy to call time on his career.
Bellamy is expected to coach on next year but has shown no inclination to extend his deal, suggesting 2026 will be his last at the Storm.
Assistant Marc Brentnall is the likely favourite to take over and the Storm will want to ensure he is armed with a squad capable to maintaining the lofty standards set by Bellamy.
FLASHBACK
Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary was in the headlines on this day five years ago. Cleary was slugged with a further breach notice by the NRL after videos emerged of him dancing with women on Anzac Day during the Covid-19 restrictions. While the breach notice did not specify an updated penalty, it is expected Cleary will be whacked further than the $4000 he was originally fined. He has another $6000 suspended plus a one-game suspended ban hanging over his head for flouting social distancing rules at home last Saturday.
KNIGHTS RE-SIGN IN-DEMAND STAR
Newcastle have re-signed key forward Mat Croker despite significant interest from Super League and NRL rivals.
The 25-year-old has re-committed to the Knights before his deal expires at the end of the season. Wakefield pursued Croker heavily but he has opted to remain with his junior club. Croker has played every game for the Knights this year.
IRL BOSS TO STAY ON
Troy Grant has been re-appointed International Rugby League (IRL) chairman for the next three years. Grant has also had his independent directorship extended for the same period.
He has spent the past five years as chairman having joined IRL six years ago.
“I’m proud to advise that I have been unanimously re-elected as an independent director and chairman for a three year term,” Grant said. “In 2020 as part of a new board structure with three brand new Independent Directors, we inherited an organisation plagued by poor management and a mountain to climb to re-establish International Rugby League as the pinnacle of the sport.
“Two pandemic years greeted us almost immediately and had us on the brink of insolvency.
“Determined and focused re-organisation and governance discipline has helped us rebuild and the building of trusted and strong relationships between member nations has recently seen the game re-born on the International stage thanks to a small but passionate management team.”
EX-NRL STAR’S RADIO RATINGS BOOM
Aaron Woods and Beau Ryan continue to make a good start to their breakfast radio career with their new Triple M show having a slight increase after the second ratings period.
The pair enjoyed a 5.9 per cent ratings share – up .1 per cent from their first survey earlier this year. SEN’s afternoons continues to grow its audience with Jimmy Smith and the duo of Bryan Fletcher and Joel Caine tracking nicely. The drive slow with Fletcher and Caine rate 3.1 per cent.
At breakfast, the loss of Michael Clarke has not hurt Sky Sports Radio with Laurie Daley and Gerard Middleton having a 2.5 per cent audience share. They sit ahead of SEN duo of Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander (1.7 per cent).
SOUTHS GET A WIN IN STADIUM BATTLE
South Sydney have received a fresh boost in their hopes of returning to Allianz Stadium with Randwick Council has thrown its support behind the switch. The Rabbitohs have been campaigning to move away from Accor Stadium to share Allianz Stadium with their arch-rivals the Roosters.
“It makes perfect sense for Souths to play out of Allianz Stadium, which is not only closer to their heartland and supporters, but also one of the best sporting venues in the country,” said Randwick mayor Dylan Parker. “This move will make it easier for local fans to support their team and help drive economic activity across our suburbs.”
EELS GREATS REUNITE
Some of Parramatta’s greatest players came together to help launch the book of The Natural: Richard ‘Dick’ Thornett.
The likes of Steve Ella, Michael Cronin, Eric Grothe, Bob O’Reilly, Peter Wynn and Denis Fitzgerald were on hand to promote the book. Stephan Wellink and Brendan Morris co-authored the book.
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: Fresh Bunker controversy as Sharks denied golden point penalty against Tigers
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