By Dan Walsh
The NRL will review Des Hasler’s comments on Monday and consider any potential punishment for his claim the NRL’s renewed focus on head contact “interferes with the integrity of what the game’s about”.
Hasler’s post-game monologue after Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was sin-binned for a high tackle has been echoed by several figures around the game, with Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater adding on Sunday that the NRL’s perceived crackdown on high shots is deciding matches and making referees “the match review committee” on the run.
Fa’asuamaleaui and Dolphins opposite Ray Stone are facing 1-2-match suspensions for respective high shots on Saturday. Broncos back-rower Brendan Piakura has also been served a 2-3-match ban for collecting Tigers prop Terrell May in the head.
After the NRL issued an edict to clubs that an “increased incidence of shoulder-to-head contact by defenders” needs to be addressed, six players were binned for high tackles across the first six games in round five.
Hasler began his press conference after the Gold Coast’s 36-10 loss to the Dolphins insisting he was not having a “whinge” and later said, “I haven’t been critical of the referees, so I don’t expect a $25,000 fine.”
He then took aim over Fa’asuamaleaui’s second-minute sin-binning as well as another high tackle call against Beau Fermor.
Did Des Hasler sail too close to the wind with his comments on the officiating?Credit: Getty
“People pay good money to come and see a game of footy,” Hasler said. “With the playing at the head, I think it just interferes a bit with the integrity of what the game is about.
“Where is the intention? It’s just another spoiling part of the game. It’s not quite as bad as Magic Round two years ago, but I find it’s disappointing.
“It’s an area that they have to look at with the intention. In six weeks when another competition starts with State of Origin, there are going to be people in the sin bin.
“I’m not going to be using it as an excuse [for losing] ... but it’s just uncalled for. It’s not the first time it is going to be stated, but it’s a forceful game sometimes.”
Hasler made mention of NRL head of football Graham Annesley’s email to clubs as well, which stated the prevalence of high tackles “is a tackling technique issue that needs to be addressed, and players must lower their target area to avoid the risk of contact with the head/neck of opponents.”
“It’s not as simple as lowering your target,” Hasler responded.
Speaking on The Sunday Footy Show, Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns was furious that players have been put on report by the Bunker several minutes after an incident occurred.
Former NSW coach Brad Fittler cautioned that the continued focus on head contact would lead to players lying down for penalties, while Slater put too much pressure on referees to make decisions that have significant impact on the contest.
“The officials have got a job to manage the game but they’re also asked to be the Match Review Committee on the run as well. It’s a really tough job for the referees,” Slater said.
“At the moment it’s getting to that point where it is deciding games. You take players off the field for minor indiscretions - a lot of them are only resulting in fines - and [players] are spending 10 minutes on the sideline. It can be a huge disadvantage.”
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