Three controversial match-defining refereeing decisions in as many games has left Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy pleading with the NRL to make the blunders to stop. The tipping point came on Sunday afternoon in his sides 24-22 loss to the Raiders in Canberra, just minutes before a last-gasp match winner to forward Paul Vaughan. Up 22-18 in the 71st minute, the Storm all but had things wrapped up when winger Sisa Waqa appeared to cross for his second try out wide. However, the on-field referee, with assistance from the touch judge, ruled he bounced short of the line after a brilliant tackle from Jarrod Croker - and there was not enough evidence for the video referee to overturn the decision. I thought it was (on the line). Its just confusing, Bellamy said. The ruling came just six days after an officiating blunder gifted the Storm a miraculous win over St George Illawarra with a try the NRL later conceded should not have been awarded as the final play-the-ball came after the full-time siren. The week before that, Ryan Hinchcliffe was controversially penalised for stripping the ball out from Titans prop Luke Douglas - the ensuing two points sealing the win for Gold Coast with 19 seconds left. I think all the fans are a bit disillusioned at the moment, Bellamy said. Everyone is sick of games being decided on controversial calls. Its frustrating, whether youre a Raiders or Storm fan. Bellamy believes it is unreasonable to have referees and touch judges make on-field decisions that can not be easily overturned. I reckon theyre putting too much pressure on referees and touch judges, he said. Sometimes they cant see any better than us, but theyve got to make a ruling. Storm captain Cameron Smith was resigned to his sides fate after the match. Weve all seen that it doesnt matter what the captains or the coaches think, he said. Its gone. Croker said he was not sure whether Waqa made it over the line or not. I knew the first...
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 10:40:42 +0000
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