NRL 2022: Trent Robinson under investigation after post-match comments about referee
The Roosters are at risk of another fine as the NRL investigates coach Trent Robinson for post-match comments for the third time in two seasons.
NRL
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The Roosters are at risk of being fined for questioning the integrity of referee Gerard Sutton — which could take the club’s history of sanctions to over $100,000.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson is under review by the NRL for post-match comments for the third time in two seasons.
Robinson was within his right to vent his frustration with several key decisions from the Roosters’ 26-18 loss to Penrith on Friday night.
However, the NRL are concerned with Robinson’s assertion that referees officiate the club differently when claiming: “It’s not going to happen in Roosters colours, that’s not bias, that’s a fact, that you’re not going to get those opportunities (from receiving penalties).’’
Robinson was lamentable with several decisions, notably Sutton penalising hooker Sam Verrills for a tackle the referee claimed was dangerous.
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The decision was widely panned by commentators and fans.
As a result of the penalty, Penrith rolled up the field and capitalised through a try.
“That’s just a horrible decision,’’ Robinson said in his post-match press conference.
“We shouldn’t let a try in at the end of it, but there were so many poor decisions tonight.
“We had the same referee last game and it was 30-odd offsides, and it was a 3-1 penalty count, and it was like, ‘Well, this is normal’.
“And then at every opportunity (against Penrith) ... it was the Sam Verrills one, we also had the sin-binning one (against Angus Crichton) ... we’re not playing rugby union. You either stop the game, send him to the bin there; you don’t give them opportunities.’’
The Roosters have struggled under Sutton in recent years. Since 2020, they have won just four from 14 matches Sutton has controlled.
However, the NRL have proven steadfast against coaches singling out the performance of referees. The NRL are reviewing the comments with an outcome to be determined.
Robinson was given a suspended $10,000 fine for describing the match officials as “incompetent” for their handling of incidents involving Drew Hutchison and James Tedesco against the Eels, where Matt Cecchin officiated.
The Roosters were hit with a $40,000 penalty after an explosive round 24 match against South Sydney. Robinson was fined $20,000, plus had the $10,000 suspended fine triggered.
The NRL’s breach notice said Robinson had “claimed match officials had a bias against the Roosters and exposed individual match officials to personal ridicule in contravention of NRL rules”.
Robinson and the Roosters were fined $40,000 in 2016 after the coach said “(referee Ben) Cummins has been horrible and disrespectful to our players for many years”.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has been whacked with about $135,000 in fines during his two decades of coaching.
Robinson lashes referee over ‘horrible’ decision
-Martin Gabor
Trent Robinson has launched a scathing take-down of referee Gerard Sutton after his side gave up a second-half lead to lose 26-18 to Penrith to put another dent in their top eight hopes, claiming 50-50 calls never go his team’s way.
The Roosters had done amazingly well to fight back from a 14-6 half-time deficit to lead inside the final quarter, but a string of offside penalties cruelled them after that, and the weight of possession eventually told when Nathan Cleary hit Izack Tago with a peach of a pass to put the Panthers back in front.
The visitors were on the wrong side of an 8-3 penalty count, including a bizarre decision just before half-time that led to a crucial Viliame Kikau try.
Sam Verrills made a good legs tackle on Scott Sorensen who just so happened to tip slightly forward with momentum. No one complained but Sutton awarded a penalty that led to six crucial points.
“That was a horrible decision,” Robinson said. “There were so many poor decisions tonight.”
Robinson was furious with a number of crucial calls, including the decision to sin bin Angus Crichton for a pull back on Stephen Crichton several plays after the foul had occurred.
“We’re not playing rugby union,” he said.
“You stop the game and send him to the sin bin there. You don’t give them opportunities.
“It wasn’t a good enough performance (from Sutton). They’re big decisions that you can’t get wrong.”
Roosters captain James Tedesco was locked in an ongoing debate with Sutton throughout the second half, but it made no difference.
“It was frustrating,” he said.
“I felt like we were defending our line so well but we kept getting penalties against them. We kept giving them possession through those penalties and we weren’t getting anything back. There wasn’t much explanation for it.”
FINALS BLOW
The Roosters produced one of their gutsiest 80 minutes of the season, but the loss has them down in 10th spot and potentially four points outside the top eight by the end of the round.
Robinson’s side had been written off all week with many people tipping them to miss out on the finals after they lost three-straight games before the rep round bye before the toughest trip in footy to the foot of the mountains.
Things looked dire when they headed into the sheds down by eight points, but back-to-back tries in a seven-minute stretch had them in front and dreaming of one of the upsets of the season.
The problem for the Roosters is that five of their remaining eight games are against teams currently in the top eight, and their once impenetrable defence has now conceded 22 or more points in six of their past seven matches.
CRICHTON CLEARED
NSW coach Brad Fittler can breathe a sigh of relief with the Panthers brushing off reports Stephen Crichton may have hurt his hamstring in the first half while backing up in support.
Crichton appeared hampered after he was dragged back by Blues teammate Angus Crichton, who was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul on the back of a Jaeman Salmon line-break.
“I think it was a bit of a nerve problem, but he’s all right,” Ivan Cleary said.
But the NSW centre stayed on and moved freely in the second half as Api Koroisau had a try disallowed and then scored 60 seconds later to put the result beyond doubt with nine minutes to play.
The wet weather and the heavy toll of last week’s representative fixtures meant the Panthers weren’t at their clinical best, but they are now six points clear at the top with a bye coming up to recharge the batteries.
HOT CHOOKS
Their position on the ladder is a big concern heading into the bye, but Robinson must be pleased with a couple of his biggest stars.
The decision to move Joseph Manu to the halves was a masterstroke, with the New Zealand fullback creating something out of nothing to set up two of their tries.
He needs to have his hands on the ball as much as possible, so Robinson may have a bit of a selection headache coming up when Luke Keary is cleared to return from his latest head knock.
“He was great and he did that off no training coming off the New Zealand game,” Robinson said.
Equally as impressive on Friday night was veteran prop Siosiua Taukeiaho who played the first 56 minutes, ran for 156 metres and scored a try before he was finally taken off for a well-earned rest.
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