Andrew Johns put his microphone down for the ultimate 23 minutes of 9’s protection of the Wests Tigers’ upset win over the Sharks on Sunday, revealing on Freddy and The Eighth on Monday night time that he was appearing in protest following a sin bin blitz to police excessive contact throughout spherical eight.
Johns was mute for the thrilling golden level recreation’s conclusion, after the name to sin bin Fonua Pole for a excessive shot that was initially missed by the on-field officers however was pulled up by the Bunker a number of performs later.
“Simply one other sooky pants second,” Johns joked.
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“Oh, it was simply irritating. It was doing my head in. I simply wished to throw the microphone. So I left it as much as (co-commentators) Freddy (Brad Fittler) and The Tank (Mat Thompson), they unloaded.”
Andrew Johns discusses the Bunker’s use of slow-motion replays. 9
Johns went on to applaud the NRL for recognising that the Bunker was having an excessive amount of affect and making a change to cease the video evaluation official for leaping in to intervene a number of performs after a excessive sort out until it was deemed to be a severe incident.
That change shall be applied for Magic Spherical, in accordance with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, who spoke on 2GB on Monday afternoon, then once more as a visitor on 9’s 100% Footy on Monday night time.
Abdo advised 2GB that the NRL needs to see the Bunker solely intervene for “severe acts of foul play” after 18 sin bins throughout spherical eight.
“I feel the Bunker, issues like when two gamers go as much as catch a ball, simply present it in actual time, take a look at it twice,” Johns mentioned on Freddy and the Eighth, calling for the NRL to keep away from utilizing slow-motion replays to make selections.
“If the (ball) touches their finger and goes into one other participant, who cares? Simply present it in actual time. Identical as when a ball’s bouncing from a grubber kick, if somebody dives on the ball simply present it in actual time.
“I perceive when the ball is close to the useless ball line, you should use tremendous sluggish movement there however tremendous sluggish mo, it paints a special image.
“Each time the ball goes into the air, it appears like we’re searching for a cause to not give the attempt, simply present it in actual time. If it seems like a attempt, it is a attempt.”
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As for the pinnacle excessive contact, Johns had beforehand expressed his frustration on the Sunday Footy Present, describing the scenario as “farcical”.
Fittler, in the meantime, believes there must be a correction in who will get protected throughout a tackling contest.
“About 60 per cent of individuals getting taken off the sector is as a result of they’re tackling, so the vast majority of these are individuals who had been tackling so it tells you we’re defending the improper particular person and I feel what’s occurred is that they’ve simply gone into overdrive on the pinnacle contact stuff,” he mentioned on Freddy and The Eighth.
“I do not know whether or not it is from paranoia about being sued sooner or later but it surely simply went approach too far over the past two weekends.
“Three weeks in the past, Andrew and Graham Annesley really got here out and spoke about how they missed a pair. Jarome Luai really ended up getting a few weeks sidelined they usually missed that in the course of the recreation.
Jarome Luai’s excessive shot. Fox League
“There was three folks throughout that week and from there, there was only a response and that is what occurs in our recreation rather a lot, there’s only a response by means of criticism that we might have missed one thing however on the finish of the day, transfer on.”
On Monday night time, Abdo was additionally quizzed by 9’s 100% Footy panel over the drama from the weekend.
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When it was put to Abdo by Paul Gallen that accidents occur, the NRL boss claimed sure golf equipment are managing excessive contact higher than others.
“The vital factor right here is the danger of damage to the participant, not whether or not or not they get an damage however what’s that motion when it comes to the danger of the damage,” he mentioned.
“For many years it has been unlawful to hit gamers within the head and to have excessive tackles and we have been sin binning and sending gamers off for many years.
“What we’re making an attempt to get proper now’s refining what that bar is and getting that stability proper and what we’re seeing is a few gamers adapting their recreation very successfully.
“Among the groups haven’t have a sin bin for a head excessive shot in eight rounds. We have had some groups solely give away three penalties for head excessive tackles, some groups as excessive as 19. It exhibits groups are capable of adapt to this and perceive the usual that is accepted.”
