The Raiders were the surprising big winners of Round 9 coming from 14-nil down to win 44-14 over the Newcastle Knights.
In a round that saw many surprising results, it all started fairly ordinary with solid wins by the Rabbitohs over the Cowboys 28-10 and The Sharks over the Tigers 30-6.
Saturday saw my mob, the Bulldogs also come from behind to win 24-16 over the Warriors after being down 16-0. The Bulldogs are starting to find their mojo but there is still much to improve before they start facing the top 4 teams again. The win is their third in a row after losing 4 on the trot and has seen them come from the bottom of the ladder to being equal 8th. Their for and against record is only 20 points shy of taking the 8th spot outright and so they currently sit in the 11th position. It's been a very gratifying comeback as the team have listened to the cries of the fans and implemented most of the changes we were calling for. I have to say I would eat my words when Tony Williams started earning his keep, and I must admit to having just a little nibble on them this weekend.
Whilst I am aware the Warriors coach was annoyed at the refereeing decisions he needs to look at the full picture. If justice was the winner on every decision in that match it would probably have turned out to be the same result. The amount of forward passes being missed in that game was a joke on both sides of the field and I am not convinced the argument still exists to prevent the video referees deciding on forward passes.
The argument given to me is that it would mean that more cameras would be needed to ensure every pass could be seen. But this is not what I am suggesting, I am not saying Video refs should be able to notify the on-field refs when they see a forward pass, I am saying that if a try is scored and there is an appeal by the opposition to check for a forward pass, or if in the process of checking the try for something else it is noticed very clearly on the screen that a pass went forward, then these officials must have the power to rule on it. The Warriors winger made an inward pass 5 metres before the 20m line and it was caught by the recipient 1 metre before the same line. It was visible to me in real time and even clearer in slow mo.
How is this progress if that was seen and the try was awarded because there is no jurisdiction?
The NRL has gone backwards in its facilitation of rules and the code is out of control. The is no justice system when players stay on the field after two spear tackles, or when video refs cant rule on forward passes, or when lawyers are able to intervene in stopping drug cheats. Where is the leaders of the NRL? Doing deals with television stations and betting organisations? What has happened to the justice system in Rugby League nowadays if cheats and bad sportsmanship is constantly rewarded?
Anyway... following this game on Saturday evening, the Eels managed to hold out the Broncos 19-18 in a nail biter and on Sunday the Titans did the same thing to the Dragons, this time by 15-14.
But on Sunday evening came the upset of the year, when the Panthers beat the mighty Melbourne Storm 12-10 in what sounded like a very tough encounter. After being undefeated for 7 weeks, the Storm have lost two games back to back and the result is that for the first time in decades the Rabbitohs are outright leaders of the competition. The Bunnies are huge and they are pumped, and its very hard to see them coming to a halt.
To finish the round off tomorrow we have Manly vs Roosters in what should be a block buster. They are pretty evenly matched and this could go own to the referees whistle.
Hope your team won, if not, there's always next week.
J G S
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