‘Outrageous’: Benji slams refereeing before demanding a please explain
Benji Marshall walked into his post-match press conference with a purpose.
After the Tigers lost 24-10 to the Cowboys, the coach was given the simple question straight up around his thoughts and first praised the effort of his side.
Benji Marshall and Api Koroisau. NRL
Then, unprompted, he went straight for the officiating.
“I actually feel very sorry for them (his players) because the standard and level of some of the refereeing decisions today were outrageous,” he said.
“I thought we copped the raw end of the stick all night.”
The Tigers were on the wrong end of multiple 50/50 calls throughout the match, which started when Jarome Luai ran 90 metres to no avail.
That no try came after Api Koroisau was judged to have played at the ball when tackling Cowboys prop Thomas Mikaele who was close to the line. Mikaele dropped it and then Luai ran the field, only for it to be called a penalty.
With 22 minutes left in the match, another controversial call came when Jeral Skelton was penalised for being a disruptor in an aerial contest with Ethan King.
“You’ve got to bump and then compete,” referee Grant Atkins said.
Then the Cowboys went down the other end and scored after Scott Drinkwater’s kick hit the post and found Jaxon Purdue close to the line.
Multiple Cowboys and Tigers players had competed for the kick behind the post with Jeramiah Nanai taking out Jock Madden.
Billy Slater was sold it was a try but Brad Fittler said “no way” and that Madden had been taken out.
“30 seconds prior, they hammered the Tigers for the same thing,” he said.
Another contentious call was when Terrell May had a try ruled out because of Scott Drinkwater being obstructed.
Slater disagreed with the call and said Drinkwater “was never getting anywhere near Terrell May”.
Marshall’s frustration came from all those calls.
“Api gets penalised when Jarome runs away and scores, for playing at Thomas Mikaele’s arm. What’s he supposed to do?,” he said.
Fonua Pole takes out Scott Drinkwater. Nine
“He’s going to go and score if he doesn’t.
“At the end of the game, we go and contest the ball and get penalised for contesting. They go down, take Jock Madden out, same thing, we get no penalty and they score. That’s just a couple of things that actually happened out there, and I just feel sorry for the players because we’re fighting so hard to try and get the result.
“Take nothing away from the Cowboys, they earned their victory and got it, but I feel like I need to stand up for my players because the way they’re fighting, it’s just not right.”
Marshall then referenced the May no try too.
“He (Fonua Pole) runs a lead inside the four man on the guy inside Heilum Luki, who makes a defensive decision to come in, and Terrell goes outside him and the obstruction’s for the guy inside. Anyone who knows footy knows that’s a try and then it’s 20-16 with however long to go and we’re fighting back in it,” he said.
“It just felt like that all night. I had my rant, I just don’t think it’s right.”
Koroisau, who was sitting next to Marshall, had constantly been in Atkins’ ear all night around the perceived inconsistencies.
The Tigers coach backed his captain for the actions he took and then suggested the decisions were an implication of where his side is on the ladder.
“From our point of view, when you’re at this part of the table that’s probably what happens but (that) doesn’t make it right,” he added.
“We’ll be sending in a few questions and asking for a please explain, but that’s irrelevant.
“What I am proud of is that the guys, no matter what, kept fighting for the whole night and showed spirit given there’s not actually anything to play for.”
