ROOSTERS coach Trent Robinson is expecting a call from NRL CEO Todd Greenberg on Tuesday after delivering an epic spray in which he accused referee Ben Cummins of showing repeat disrespect to his side, Dragons players of lying down and the bunker of playing match review committee.
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The blast that is almost certain to see him sanctioned by the governing body was delivered in the immediate aftermath to his side’s 20-18 Anzac Day loss to the Dragons. After giving up an 18-0 halftime lead the Roosters looked to be storming home against the Dragons, getting within two points at 20-18 with four minutes remaining, but fell short amid a number of interventions from the bunker to report foul play.
Sam Moa (shoulder charge), Kane Evans (high shot), Eloni Vunakece and Dylan Napa all finished the match on report, the latter three all as a result of tips from the bunker. Mitch Rein was taken from the field for a concussion test as a result of Evans’s shot and didn’t return while debutant Taane Milne also left the field along with Boyd Cordner after both were left senseless following a head clash.
Napa was put on report for his part in the collision and a livid Robinson didn’t hold back in his assessment.
“They’re trying to play match review committee in 10 seconds because to has to be a reportable offence [for the bunker to intervene],” Robinson said.
“They spend hours on Monday and Tuesday mornings to get that right and they’re trying to do it in 10 seconds. There was a head clash, Boyd Cordner had to be taken from the field as did Taane Milne on the Napa tackle. It bounced up off his body, there won’t be a charge from around it and the bunker decides to play match review committee and calls a penalty. [It was] a big play in the game.
“Jackson Hastings [was hit late] but he got up and played on. That’s our game. We didn’t lie down for that penalty but when you do, the bunker gets excited, puts it slow motion and decides to penalise it. I complained about it two years ago to stop the lying down...but it’s just gone back there again. It’s not something we like in our game.”
Robinson reserved his most stinging criticism for Cummins.
“Ben [Cummins] has just been horribly disrespectful to our players for many years and its continued,” he said.
“We’ve had good high percentage win rate up until this year and under Ben Cummins we’ve won two games.The way he spoke Jake [Friend] during the game was unacceptable.”
Robinson was aware he was risking a fine with his comments.
“I’d say Todd [Greenberg] might be ringing me,” he said.
