NRL: five things we learned from round three

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/mar/23/nrl-five-things-learned-round-three

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Trying times

The NRL has well and truly lost its way when it comes to the video referee and the process of referring a decision. The Canterbury faithful – and the wider rugby league community – were mystified when a Steve Matai try was awarded by the video ref despite an on-field decision of no try and not a single frame of conclusive evidence that is supposedly necessary to overturn the original call. This just a week after Anthony Don from the Gold Coast was disallowed a try against Penrith because the on-field referee guessed he was offside, crossed his arms and video footage did not show conclusive evidence that Don was onside so the call stood. No two decisions highlight how video referees simply don’t follow process. They have simply gone rogue with every decision a lottery based on who is in the box.

It is the single issue that frustrates everyone – fans, players, coaches – yet the NRL refuses to hold officials accountable or simplify the process. The current situation is simply untenable and the League needs to act and fast. Aiden Tolman eloquently asked referee Matt Cecchin why the decision was overturned and was sent back to his corner like a naughty little boy, even the whistleblower seemingly stunned by the green light. It is all good and well for the NRL to punish players for damaging the game’s reputation but allowing the current standard of video refereeing to continue is doing far more to bite at the game’s integrity.

Bee in his bonnet

While on Cecchin, he certainly left his stamp on the Manly-Canterbury game with his constant demands that players go back to the mark to play the ball. The referee didn’t blow a single penalty yet stopped the game and sent players back to their mark what seemed at least 10 times. Why he didn’t blow a penalty is something only Cecchin can answer but it was just another factor that slowed down a game that never really got going because of a horrid surface and this type of refereeing.

What happened to the days when referees enforced the rules by blowing their whistle? They seem more like assistant coaches than lawmen when they slow the game down and treat players like an Under-6s outfit who have never played footy before. The referee has the whistle and he should be using it to establish some authority. Blow a whistle for walking off the mark once and players will soon play it where they are tackled.

Related: Brisbane Broncos brush aside Johnathan Thurston and the Cowboys

Cows in crisis

North Queensland went into the 2015 season as one of the popular picks for the premiership but their season is in tatters after consecutive home defeats were followed by a blowout loss against rivals Brisbane on Friday night. The Cowboys conceded 44 points – for the first time since 2010 – including six first half tries where they were cut to shreds by a team that had managed just 16 points across the first two rounds.

North Queensland missed an astonishing 47 tackles with Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote missing 24 between them. It simply wasn’t good enough from three accomplished veterans. Paul Green has a job in front of him trying to rescue North Queensland from this rut with the season on the brink before the April cool sets in.

Curse of Canberra done and dusted

St George Illawarra’s capital curse is now over after their stunning come-from-behind win against Canberra on Sunday night. The Raiders were home and hosed at 18-0 before capitulating against a Dragons team that had managed just three tries all season to half-time. After not winning in Canberra since 2000, the Dragons have won two straight in the capital since Ricky Stuart took the reins.

Related: South Sydney remain the team to beat after seeing off impressive Wests Tigers

While the pressure on the Saints has been alleviated somewhat with the win, the Raiders are right back in the gun after the humiliating defeat. They have certainly upgraded at five-eighth and hooker this year with the recruitment of Blake Austin and Josh Hodgson – who both scored excellent tries against the Dragons – but they lack creativity in attack and commitment in defence as a team and that is why throwing away a game that was there for the taking could prove crushing.

No punching on … but slaps are OK

The no punching edict handed down by the NRL in 2013 has seen plenty of players shape up, a whole lot mouth off and even the odd one punch on. But we saw a first in the Bunnies-Tigers clash when behemoth props Keith Galloway and Tim Grant came nose-to-nose with the ginger-haired Tigers prop slapping the Souths bookend across the cheek. It was handbags at 10 paces, nothing more, nothing less.