Round 9 - Dragons vs Storm

[Danger D]

I think B Smith should have been allowed to take some runs from dummy half. There were times that the markers weren't square and Cam didn't run at them (possibly still hurting in his jiblets). With the refs cracking down on ruck infringements it should enable more quick play the balls which we aren't fully able to take advantage of if Smithy is always thinking 2 steps ahead instead of playing what's in front of him sometimes.

[Kettles]

Essendon, QPR and to a lesser extent Melbourne Storm, but certainly the refs who fumbled their way through the St Merge v Storm game can all, collectively GAGF and thanks for totally ruining my weekend.

[steaming stormer]

The penalty/no try to JAC, is a rubbish call, but technically correct. It didn't impact the play, but as soon as the pocket ref was calling the penalty, it's prior to the play the ball, so no advantage can be paid. My issue is just how bad the communication between the two refs was... so slow. And the one where Cecchin clearly called first knock on St George, then old mate from 20m away overrules... but the reality is, the momentum it cost us stopped at half time anyway... it was our 2nd half that was atrocious.

Our forwards were completely dominated - we had no go forward, and we had zero control of the ruck speed all day. We didn't bend their line at all, and they ran all over us going the other way. For our starting props to make about 120-130m combined says it all. Finucane in his first game back can hold his head high, but from our pack that's about it. Kafusi didn't hurt us, but he didn't do much either.

Cam was way down too, but again, he was operating off slow play the balls all day. That's also part of why Jacks had no impact, but that's also the thing with Jacks. He does his job, but he doesn't create a lot.

Move on, get a rocket up the pack about where they need to get to for us to challenge this year, and bring on next Saturday night.

[yourhero]

I disagree that it was technically correct, regardless of Bellamy's refusal to hammer the officials in the post match presser.

The refs stated "unacceptable play the ball" multiple times. This is used when a defender crowds/otherwise cause the person playing the ball to lose control of it. That loss of control never happened in this instance. Kasiano managed to play the ball perfectly fine. It was a dogsh*t call that cost us a try at a critical point in the match.

[blazza18]

Blame the pocket ref for his premature call. Should've just let it go but he was screaming penalty the entire play afterwards. That bad call, the Munster not scoring after the penalty and the punch on Smith that was ignored completely changed the context of the game.

[Mattpoet]

What did everyone think of Olam's debut? I liked what I saw.

[TC]

Hit to the groin should have been a penalty even if it wasn't intentional - player playing the ball interfered with a marker and prevented him from taking part in play. Personally I'm not convinced it was accidental - and neither are most of the radio jocks today (even the self proclaimed NSW tragics).

Oh, and how the f*ck does Frizelle get a grade one charge for the head slam?

[LESStar58]

Hit to the groin should have been a penalty even if it wasn't intentional - player playing the ball interfered with a marker and prevented him from taking part in play. Personally I'm not convinced it was accidental - and neither are most of the radio jocks today (even the self proclaimed NSW tragics).

Oh, and how the f*ck does Frizelle get a grade one charge for the head slam?

Apparently Cam elbowed Latimore in the head according to Saints fans.

[Bullucked]

the punch on Smith that was ignored completely

Surely Cam should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute by attacking the player with his genitals

[TC]

Hit to the groin should have been a penalty even if it wasn't intentional - player playing the ball interfered with a marker and prevented him from taking part in play. Personally I'm not convinced it was accidental - and neither are most of the radio jocks today (even the self proclaimed NSW tragics).

Oh, and how the f*ck does Frizelle get a grade one charge for the head slam?

Apparently Cam elbowed Latimore in the head according to Saints fans.

These would be the same Stains fans who thought Ainscough's hit on Craig Smith was legal?

Interesting fact: did you know that when playing in the UK, Jamie Ainscough hit Martin Gleeson in the mouth with a swinging arm? Gleeson lost a couple of teeth. A few weeks later, Ainscough developed a very severe arm infection - so severe there was serious talk he might lose it - only to discover that the cause of the infection was a piece of Marty's tooth embedded in the arm. Ultimately it ended his career.

(A mate of mine ran into him in a club a couple of years later and took great delight in pointing out that while a swinging arm to the head had ended Smithy's career, the exact same piece of grubbery had ended Ainscough's as well, and wasn't karma a bitch?)

[LESStar58]

Hit to the groin should have been a penalty even if it wasn't intentional - player playing the ball interfered with a marker and prevented him from taking part in play. Personally I'm not convinced it was accidental - and neither are most of the radio jocks today (even the self proclaimed NSW tragics).

Oh, and how the f*ck does Frizelle get a grade one charge for the head slam?

Apparently Cam elbowed Latimore in the head according to Saints fans.

These would be the same Stains fans who thought Ainscough's hit on Craig Smith was legal?

Interesting fact: did you know that when playing in the UK, Jamie Ainscough hit Martin Gleeson in the mouth with a swinging arm? Gleeson lost a couple of teeth. A few weeks later, Ainscough developed a very severe arm infection - so severe there was serious talk he might lose it - only to discover that the cause of the infection was a piece of Marty's tooth embedded in the arm. Ultimately it ended his career.

(A mate of mine ran into him in a club a couple of years later and took great delight in pointing out that while a swinging arm to the head had ended Smithy's career, the exact same piece of grubbery had ended Ainscough's as well, and wasn't karma a bitch?)

Yeah. I've heard that story.

Ainscough played for Saints AND Wigan. You don't get much worse than that

[sallymay]

The game was lost the day the refs were named...storm never had a chance

And if they did they lost it when Nelson lost the ball on the first hit up...on to next week

Bloody wouldn't be surprised if we lost to the Titans either but who ducking knows

[steaming stormer]

Blame the pocket ref for his premature call. Should've just let it go but he was screaming penalty the entire play afterwards. That bad call, the Munster not scoring after the penalty and the punch on Smith that was ignored completely changed the context of the game.

Munster not scoring was a double movement though - so not a bad call, just bad luck on our end.

[Danger D]

the punch on Smith that was ignored completely

Surely Cam should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute by attacking the player with his genitals

I'm not normally a fan of Blocker Roach, but he had a good point on the NRL Wrap program when he said that Lattimore should have been booked for ball tampering!

[Mattpoet]

Roach does more harm to the English language than every invader ever, put together