Veteran Dragons winger Jason Nightingale has lent his support to the underfire NRL bunker as the fallout from Trent Robinson’s infamous Anzac Spray continues.
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In an explosive press conference following the Dragons narrow 20-18 win, Robinson blasted referee Ben Cummins, accused Dragons players of lying down to milk penalties and the bunker of playing quickfire match review committee.
It echoed previous calls from Broncos coach Wayne Bennett for the bunker to but out of general play and only be used to determine matters in the in-goal areas only.
Nightingale was the victim of a crusher tackle from Eloni Vunakece – one of four Roosters players who landed on report – which earned a penalty after being reviewed by the bunker.
Nightingale – who laughed off diving allegations – was glad Vunakece wasn’t charged, but said the bunker was right to intervene when incidences of foul play escape the attention of the on-field referees.
“We had two players go off [with concussion] after being reviewed by the bunker,” Nightingale said.
“Ideally for starters you’d like the [on-field] refs to see it but if foul play happens the person committing the foul play needs to be penalised and the other team needs an advantage.
“I got a slow play-the-ball as a result of foul play and that’s a disadvantage to my team. The only way to rectify that is to penalise the person doing the the foul play. That’s the way the rules are.
“You’d like to see the refs handle it on the field but it doesn’t always happen that way. In saying that I’m glad Eloni wasn’t cited because he certainly didn’t mean it.”
