‘We get treated differently here’: Ricky Stuart says Raiders singled out by NRL officials
Related Story: Sharks beat Raiders amid controversy, Broncos pummel Panthers
Ricky Stuart's measured response to the officiating blunders in Canberra's 28-24 loss to the Sharks last night has not lasted long.
Stuart rued "monumental" mistakes in one passage of play that allowed Cronulla to halt the Raiders' comeback from 22-6 down at half-time to 22-18 after 50 minutes.
Then, approaching the hour mark of the clash, a touch judge raised his flag on the final tackle of a Sharks' set, prompting referee Gerard Sutton to repeatedly put the whistle to his lips without blowing it.
Raiders players were clearly distracted by the moves and allowed Sione Katoa to scoot through untouched to score under the posts.
External Link: The incident sparking so much controversy
Sutton then sent it to the video referee as no try because he believed Jesse Ramien had knocked on in the lead-up, but the decision was overturned, which can only occur when there is "sufficient evidence" to do so.
Clearly upset, Stuart kept his cool in the post-match press conference and repeatedly made it clear that his team dug its own hole, although they were robbed of the chance to finish digging themselves out of it.
But fewer than 24 hours later the former Roosters, Eels, Sharks, Blues and Kangaroos coach revealed his theory that the Raiders were not treated the same as other teams across the NRL.
"I've been at a number of other clubs [and] this club gets treated differently to other clubs I've been involved in," he told ABC Grandstand.
"I know other clubs who have got a higher profile and who they need in their competition … I believe we get treated differently at times."
Stuart revealed on ABC Grandstand that referees' boss Bernard Sutton tried to speak to him before he addressed the media, but did not try again afterwards.
The NRL has already said the touch judge should not have raised his flag and announced a review into the bunker's decision, but Stuart wants more of an explanation.
"Can the NRL explain to me why it has happened?" he said.
Another bad year for the bunker
On two occasions this year the bunker has awarded a try despite the player himself clearly feeling he did not earn the four points.
In a round seven game between the Storm and Broncos, a disappointed Billy Slater shook his head and said "I dropped it" as the referees reviewed a possible try in which he grubbered for himself.
It was adjudged by the bunker to be a dropkick and the try stood, after which Slater shrugged and clearly said: "That's not a try".
External Link: Billy Slater sums up how so many of us feel about the bunker sometimes.
A similar situation happened last week, when the Roosters' Sean O'Sullivan pushed the ball against the goalpost before grounding it.
He too was obviously furious with himself for failing to secure the ball and could only chuckle when the green light was flashed for a decision the NRL later said was wrong.
"The bunker system's flawed — it simply makes too many errors," Stuart said.
"The amount of times I've seen referees smile and giggle and shake their heads in disbelief at bunker rulings surely is enough to say that this isn't working."
External Link: Ricky Stuart speaks to ABC Grandstand
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