Proof the NRL’s play-the-ball penalty crackdown is a farce

THESE are the images that show why Canterbury had every right to be blowing up in the wake of their controversial loss to South Sydney.

South Sydney's Angus Crichton with a dodgy play the ball against Canterbury. Photo: Fox Sports

THESE are the images that will infuriate Canterbury fans. And it shows exactly why the NRL’s play-the-ball penalty crackdown is a farce.

It’s got nothing to do with the referees’ attempting to clean up the game.

But it has everything to do with the issue of consistency.

South Sydney's Angus Crichton with a dodgy play the ball against Canterbury.

While Aiden Tolman was the only player penalised for not using his foot to play the ball in the entire 80 minutes at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, The Daily Telegraph has uncovered several examples of Souths players escaping punishment for the exact same infringement.

On two occasions it led directly to Rabbitohs’ tries in their hard-fought 20-16 win.

This is the play the ball from the winning try.

Replays clearly showed Tom Burgess failed to make contact with his foot leading up to Braidon Burns’ 53rd minute try.

Burgess also failed to touch the ball with his foot before the matchwinning try to Cameron Murray.

There was another blatant example soon after the Tolman penalty in the first half, when Angus Crichton also failed to touch his foot on the ball.

Was this a genuine attempt to use the foot.

While no one expects the referees to be able to make judgment on every contentious play the ball during a match, the NRL had previously informed clubs that players would only be penalised if they didn’t make a genuine attempt to use their foot.

There is no doubt Tolman’s attempt was no worse than that of Crichton or Burgess.

Dean Pay said after the game when asked about the Tolman penalty if the new interpretation lacked consistency: “You tell me? Have you seen them let them go?”

Another example of a dodgy play the ball.

“So if they are going to be consistent about it, that is all we are asking for.”

Some will say the Bulldogs had a dodgy obstruction call go their way the previous week in the win over Penrith.

They call it the rub of the green.

But all it really does is create further frustration for players, coaches and fans, while eroding confidence and credibility in referees.

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