Manly Sea Eagles duo sent off in most controversial finish of season
Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake didn’t hide his anger after a controversial call went against his side late in the club’s loss to Newcastle, hurling a disgusting slur at referee Grant Atkins.
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Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake was sent off for calling referee Grant Atkins a “f***ing retard” during a chaotic and sensational finish to Sunday’s big match against Newcastle at Lottoland.
In a flashpoint 80th-minute moment, irate Manly players rushed at Atkins after being denied a possible late penalty try to win the match or a penalty goal to level the scores.
With just seconds remaining and his side behind 14-12, Manly winger Tevita Funa shot down the right side and kicked ahead before being dragged to the ground without the ball by Newcastle’s Bradman Best and Tex Hoy.
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Knights hooker Andrew McCullough grounded the ball in-goal before Atkins checked for a possible penalty try.
Video referee Jared Maxwell denied the try and then refused to recommend a penalty, infuriating Manly players, who expressed open dissent at Atkins. Fonua-Blake immediately apologised through a club statement.
“Referees have a very tough job and we all need to respect their decisions even when we may not agree with them,’’ Fonua-Blake said. “I should not have let my emotions get the better of me and I am very sorry for the comments I made.
“I’d also like to offer my sincere apology to anyone offended by the regrettable language that I used. I let myself and my Club down. That is not who I am or want this club stands for.”
Atkins, who was jeered loudly by the Manly crowd after the game, was escorted from the field by a heavy band of security.
Newcastle players were elated when they heard Maxwell reject a penalty try.
Fonua-Blake’s abuse can clearly be heard on television audio. Atkins then told Fonua-Blake: “You’ve been sent off.”
LATE DRAMA AT BROOKIE!
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) July 5, 2020
WATCH: @Channel9#9WWOS #NRL #NRLManlyKnights pic.twitter.com/nSw5MNRvsS
Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, who was sin-binned earlier in the match, protested loudly to Atkins, while frustrated forward Jake Trbojevic also fronted touch judge Dave Munro after fulltime.
Trbojevic ran 30m to vent his fury at Munro.
The 118kg Fonua-Blake waved his arms around in disgust when marched. A Manly official later told the media that Fonua-Blake apologised to Atkins after the match.
Atkins appeared rattled by the hostility at fulltime.
“Obviously he (Atkins) sent Addin off so we need to look at that,” Manly coach Des Hasler said.
“I think from Addin’s point of view it was emotion and frustration. You’ve got to take that. Wait and see what the charges and fallout of that is.
“I have to check with Graham Annesley (NRL head of football) in regards to what the rule is in regards to the penalty and a shot at goal.
“I’m sure it’s fine and in the rules.
“I haven’t spoken to (Addin) in detail. I’m concerned about the outcome, definitely. Until we can find out what the outcome is, we can’t act on it.”
Onya Horse. That was a penalty every day of the week. #NRLManlyKnights
— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) July 5, 2020
The PUSH came almost simultaneously as the kick. Not a scandal. Nothing in it. Manly should have won that game a hundred times before that #NRLManlyKnights
— Curtis Woodward (@woodward_curtis) July 5, 2020
Fonua-Blake does not have any priors or carryover points but is likely to face a contrary conduct charge. He could even be referred directly to the judiciary panel. Losing Fonua-Blake to suspension would be a damaging blow to a Manly side already without injured star players Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker.
Speaking on Fox Sports, Cherry-Evans said: “I obviously wanted to get a better explanation. It’s hard to hear the bunker so we weren’t sure what they said.
Beyond proud of the steel @NRLKnights showed today. Lose multiple troops at a ground where they have a horrible record but found a way to win after terrible performance last week. AOB got a response immediately, big feather in his cap #NRLManlyKnights
— Harry Ramage (@harryramage) July 5, 2020
Sheesh, split second in that, would be a pretty tough penalty when you compare it to the pressure put on kickers in the other 79 minutes of the match. Cry on Manly, cry on! 😂 #NRLManlyKnights
— James Gould (@thenamesgould) July 5, 2020
Never going to score but that’s a penalty all day. Maxwell didn’t have the balls to make the call and give Manly one last crack. Manly player never got the opportunity. #NRLManlyKnights
— MJ (@clarky_82) July 5, 2020
How can that not be a penalty? Clear push in the back by Bradman Best. #NRLManlyKnights
— Rugby League News (@RugbyLeagueNews) July 5, 2020
“We probably felt as though we should have at least got a penalty there to have a crack to tie it up but again they thought differently and it was probably not the first and only time Manly and the bunker were a bit off tonight.”
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien didn’t want to involve himself in the Fonua-Blake drama.
“I haven’t had a real close look at it, I was just getting my breath,” O’Brien said.
“It’s not for me to worry about.”
COURAGEOUS KNIGHTS
After two losses in the previous three games, Newcastle claimed an important win to re-enter the top four. The Knights’ goal-line defence on Sunday was spectacular, especially after losing Kalyn Ponga (concussion), Edrick Lee (broken arm) and Sione Mata’utia (concussion). Lee left Brookvale in an ambulance.
It left the Knights with just one player on their bench by fulltime.
“I was really proud of our effort and defence on the tryline,” O’Brien said after the match.
“It was real gutsy.”