O’Brien goes ballistic
Adam O’Brien came out firing against the referees after Knights 18-19 loss to Sharks on Sunday. The former Melbourne Storm assistant slammed the officials for penalising Newcastle for using blockers during key moments of the match.
O’Brien insisted his side was not using illegal blockers. “I thought theirs was a field goal as well,” the coach said.
He then took a shot at footballing operations boss Graham Annesley. “Graham will find a way to dress it up,” O’Brien said.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon actually agreed with O’Brien. The former Sydney Roosters star said: “I probably agree (with O’Brien), I didn't think there was an obstruction line for any of (the players).
“I thought the guys had clear lanes, but if you start opening that up as well guys are just going to run into them and milk it. I don't have a solution, but I didn't think either were (a penalty), but that's the rule.”
O'Brien didn’t just complain about the blocking calls against his side. He also hit out at the officials for a controversial decision to send Phoenix Crossland to the sin bin.
“I'd be shocked if anyone agreed (with the call),” O’Brien said, “That was the third infringement for the half. I think we had one for offside from a scrum, which happens a lot, and we only had one for slowing the ruck down. On the third one he puts a bloke in the bin.
“This team is fighting to stay in the competition and then you get that done to you? Usually someone gets warned that it's going to go there. He went there on the third penalty. Fair dinkum. It's ridiculous.”
Annesley fires back
The usually mild mannered Graham Annesley took O’Brien’s criticism head on during his weekly football briefing.
“This (penalising blockers) is not something that has appeared in round 24,” Annesley said, hinting that O’Brien does not understand the rules against illegal blockers.
“In the off-season, there were meetings that were held with coaches, there was documentation sent to coaches, there were videos that were produced before round one, and we have discussed in this forum throughout the year that players who stand between the ruck and the kicker in order to create an obstruction (will be penalised),” Annesley continued.
“If you do not want to take the risk of having field goals disallowed, don’t put these players in this position. You’re inviting the referee to take the action.”
In case there was any doubt about how Annesley felt about O’Brien’s criticism, the NRL football operations lead delivered a clear final verdict.
“Obstruction, blockers, case closed.”
Annesley ended his comments with a shot at O’Brien. “If that’s dressing it up then I’ll cop it on the chin. It’s factual, it’s the rules of the game and players and coaches have to abide by those rules or suffer the consequences.”
Knights are on the road again next week. Newcastle will face off against South Sydney at Accor Stadium on Saturday night. The betting sites have the Knights as huge favourites. We’ll be looking to see if they change their kicking strategy after their blocking troubles against Sharks.
