Rabbitohs fans might have felt dudded with a number of brutal calls going against them on Thursday night, but they have been called out for taking the two points with a man advantage. Manly moved into third on the NRL ladder after defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-14 at Brookvale Oval on Thursday night.
The game was marred after two controversial calls went Manly’s way when the game was in the balance. Wayne Bennett and Cameron Smith couldn’t believe the referees missed Ben Trbojevic’s incorrect play the ball that led to a try.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have been called out for taking the two points with a man advantage in their loss to the Manly Sea Eagles. (Images: Getty Images/Channel Nine)
(Getty Images/Channel Nine)
While moments earlier the Bunker overruled an Edward Kosi try, which left fans fuming Although the Rabbitohs have come under scrutiny for opting to take the two points when Clayton Faaloalo had just been sent to the sin bin.
Jye Gray made a break down field from a kick chase in the 15th minute, before passing to Ashton Ward in support. Faaloalo made the takcle on Ward as Manly scrambled to get back into defence.
And the ball came free from Ward’s hands in the ruck with Faaloalo given 10 in the bin. However, with the Rabbitohs opted to take a shot at goal to extend their margin by eight points.
However, this wasted a few minutes of their time with Faaloalo in the bin. Manly took their time with the kick-off, before the Rabbitohs invited them back into the game. Jason Saab went over for a try and Manly ended up winning the 10 minutes with Faaloalo off on the scoreboard.
The decision has been decisive for some time. Many former players feel you should always take the two points if on offer. However, the game has changed with the six again rule and momentum changing to quickly. The Rabbitohs had the opportunity to pin Manly down in their half and look to score a try.
Instead, Manly got the ball and the Rabbitohs hardly had the chance to attack with the man advantage. And fans were critical of their decision to take the two, which is increasingly frustrating fans in the modern game.
Wayne Bennet fumes after referee howler
Following the match, South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Bennett agreed with Smith and said the missed knock-on in the play the ball from Trbojevic was extraordianry. “He didn’t play it properly, simple as that,” Bennett said when first asked.
“We pay all this money for the Bunker and still don’t get it right,” he added. “We weren’t playing well, so I’m not going to use that as an excuse, but the bottom line is that’s what they’re there for. They’ve got to go back to the play the ball when the try’s scored and that was all in the one movement. If that’s an acceptable play the ball then the game’s going to change enormously very quickly.”
Wayne Bennett was less than impressed with one call that went unnoticed. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
(Paul Kane via Getty Images)