State of Origin 2020 Game I: NRL defends referee Gerard Sutton amid controversy
Amid major outrage from the fans and calls for referee Gerard Sutton to be axed, the underfire official has found some backing. But did he call time too early?
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NRL head of football Graham Annesley has come to the defence of under fire State of Origin referee Gerard Sutton, explaining why NSW weren’t robbed at the death.
There has been calls for Sutton to be axed for next Wednesday Origin II showdown at ANZ Stadium amid anger over claims NSW were denied a final chance to steal victory in the dying seconds.
Sutton was under attack for calling fulltime before the game clock appeared to hit 80-minute mark.
Fox League legend Cooper Cronk also argued that the final tackle should have warranted a penalty for Queensland slowing down the ruck.
“Gerard Sutton should have blown a penalty and given NSW maybe two seconds to set up for one play because that was an infringement that needed to be pulled up,” Cronk said.
But Annesley explained Sutton was acting on an official countdown that was being relayed to him directly through his earpiece.
“It operated no differently to every other NRL game throughout the course of this season,” Annesley said.
“What happens is that there at times can be a slight delay between time expiring and the hooter starting to sound through the system.
“But in every game with 10 seconds to go the time keepers verbally tell the referee that there is 10 seconds to go.
“Then when they get to five seconds they give him a second by second count down.”
Annesley said in this instance it appears Sutton was spot on with his decision to call time when he did.
Annesley said he would listen to the ref’s audio which will include the time countdown on Thursday but was confident in the process.
“From what I have been told, the reports I have had from my officials, is that is exactly what happened,” Annesley added.
“But I will check the audio.”
Annesley said he was happy with Sutton’s performance on the night.
“I don’t think he had any great impact on the game,” Annesley added.
“There were no major stuff ups that I saw.
“I don’t think the referee played any impact in the outcome of the game.”
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Originally published as State of Origin 2020 Game I: NRL defends referee Gerard Sutton amid controversy