Des Hasler blasts referees after Bulldogs escape with win over Knights

BULLDOGS coach Des Hasler has labelled the standard of officiating in the game “themost inconsistent I think I have ever seen”.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler.

DES Hasler last night became the second coach in as many days to turn up the heat on

NRL referees’ boss Tony Archer, labelling the standard of officiating in the game “the

most inconsistent I think I have ever seen”.

Incredibly, there were also questions on Sunday night if Bulldogs’ goal-kicker Kerrod

Holland was forced to take the winning conversion several metres outside where

Moses Mbye scored the try.

MATCH: Fairytale farewell for Belmore favourite

While Holland landed the shot, it would be inexcusable if the onfield officials made

him take the kick wide of the mark.

Hasler also questioned if the penalty against Josh Reynolds that gave Newcastle a

chance to send the match into golden point was warranted and he also raised other

concerns about the consistency of decisions.

Hasler chose his words carefully as to not run the risk of a potential fine but there is

no question anger is growing throughout the NRL and it’s not only the coaches who

are fed up.

Hasler’s comments came after an emotional Trent Barrett also vented his frustrations

after Manly finished on the wrong side of a lopsided 12-4 penalty count in their loss

to Penrith.

The Bulldogs also copped a tough call for a questionable strip penalty that cost them

victory in their previous game against Parramatta.

Asked what he thought of the officiating in the Bulldogs’ 20-18 win over Newcastle,

Hasler responded: “I think it is the most inconsistent I think I have ever seen.

“I think Tony has got some work to do.

“I think they create calls when that they don’t need to create.

“I will get to the bottom of it later.

“But I think we have got touchies making calls, we’ve got pocket referees making

calls … they have been told a number of times how to fix it but it doesn’t seem to

resonate with them.

“We are not the only game so there is a little bit of work there to be done.

“But we will keep supporting them, keep helping them, keep suggesting things.