Weekend Wrap

Just seems a week of sport cannot pass by without controversy taking centre stage. With all the sport going on this article will be taken up by only a few subjects but subjects that will have debate and arguments going for years.

Rugby League Farce

Here is a weekend where Rugby League had what it would call a showcase weekend. A Test match between Australia & New Zealand, the inaugural Under 20 Origin and the City v Country Origin.  But as usual the management of the game completely dropped the ball. With 3 channels, channel Nine for some reason had no ability to show the Test match or the City v Country game live and couldn't be bothered to cover the U20 Origin. It is even harder to understand why it was done this way when the solution was so simple.  Have the under 20 Origin on Friday night as it was in Australia and could have been shown at 7:30 live and would ave gotten a very healthy audience, then have the Test match on Saturday or Sunday afternoon in New Zealand when a live telecast in Australia would be watchable by all and place the city v country game on the alternate day. It is not rocket science.

Clear Contact - Now watch the video

Brisbane Roar Go Back to Back

Brisbane have created history by winning back to back titles and deservedly so. The media will have you thinking Perth were robbed but evidence will state otherwise.  Regardless of what you think of the penalty, let us remove that from the equation.  1-1 at full time is what you would have. This means the game would have gone into extra time and with Brisbane on the upper hand for the last ten minutes of regular time and Perth down to 10 men, I cannot see how Perth were going to keep Brisbane out, let alone score a goal, especially seeing their main threat, Smeltz was off the field. Perth Glory fans can complain all they want but considering Brisbane scored all the goals they were kidding themselves to think they would be on the winners podium at the final whistle.

I also find it interesting to see how some are approaching the situation where a referee's decision influences the outcome of a game. Many a comment has been made in the media and on social media forums that a referee should never make a decision that decides the outcome of a game. If this is the case then why have a referee. Every decision a referee makes, changes the result of a game.  If he does not make the decision he has still affected the game. With the replay showing a clear tackle from behind that makes conctact with the calf, if the penalty is not given then the debate would be the opposite.  I have watched games where in extra time, referees fail to make any penalties on foul play so as to not affect the result, not realising that by doing nothing they are affecting the outcome.  Whether it be in the first or last minute the ref is to make the call the same way and he should be credited for holding his nerve and making the decision in real time without the aid of slow-mo replays.

Look for the Video here which clearly shows contact

All that should be considered in the tackle is:

Was it late?  Yes
Was it from behind? Yes
Was there contact that affected the player with the ball? Yes
Did it stop the player from having an opportunity to score? Yes

Regardless of how Berisha acted after he had the airswing, with all the factors above it is still a penalty. The only reason for the airswing was due to the contact knocking his foot onto the ball and changing his line. Whatever reaction happens afterwards is irrelevant.

To finish up with I have to quote my sideline reporter for his comment after Smeltz was bandaged up:
 "I can't Smeltz anything."