This was published 7 years ago
Neil Henry left 'flabbergasted', wants answers from Tony Archer in wake of Gold Coast Titans loss
By Phil Lutton
Titans coach Neil Henry says he has been left 'flabbergasted' by the non-call on Broncos centre James Roberts after he appeared to kick a Gold Coast player in the lead-up to a try in Friday night's elimination final at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane took out the contest 44-28 to set up a meeting with either Melbourne or the Cowboys next weekend, but Henry wanted a 'please explain' from referees boss Tony Archer in the wake of the defeat.
Henry said he couldn't argue with the penalty try call early in the night but was stunned by Roberts getting away with a kick on Ryan Simpkins in the play leading up to Alex Glenn's 51st minute try.
Wayne Bennett downplayed the incident, saying he was supremely confident the speedy centre wouldn't be in any danger of coming under the eye of the match review committee.
"Those two back-to-back were 12 points and at a crucial time of the game. I'm flabbergasted by that": Neil Henry.Credit: Getty Images
"I doubt that. I honestly doubt that. I don't think it will come under scrutiny. I saw what he did. He's never going to be charged," Bennett said.
Henry would disagree with that and was also fuming about a penalty against David Mead for what referees considered a dangerous challenge on the leaping Corey Oates.
Referees boss Tony Archer spoke to Channel Nine at halftime to explain the penalty try call and Henry wants an explanation of his own as the Gold Coast return to lick their wounds after a good return to form in 2016.
"I understand Tony Archer took the time out to talk to Darren Lockyer at half time and explained a penalty try situation but I hope he takes some time out to talk to me about a couple of decisions out there," Henry said.
Gutted: Ash Taylor left the game early with a hip injury.Credit: Bradley Kanaris
"We talk about officials being a protected species... I've got a huge question on David Mead going for a ball that was a momentum changer, they go up the other end and score a try.
"I've got another one where there is a player playing the ball and kicks a defender in the back... has two goes at him... and they don't do anything abut it. Yet we've got James Graham, who has been charged with not making contact with a player and we can see fit to not even worry about that situation.
Ain't that a kick: James Roberts.Credit: Getty Images
"Is that the difference between a win and a loss? Maybe not. We conceded some tries. But those two back-to-back were 12 points and at a crucial time of the game. I'm flabbergasted by that.
"I'll get some feedback but it's of no consequence to my men in there who are very upset about those couple of decisions in particular. I hope the media do that officiating justice tomorrow."
Archer spoke to media after game and defended the refereeing performance, saying Bunker staff had no jurisdiction over the Roberts kicking incident because they could only review as far back as the play-the-ball.
If Roberts had kicked Simpkins after he played the ball, it would have been fair game for the video review but because he lashed out beforehand it was destined to be left up to the review panel.
"The Bunker determined a try, which was after the play-the-ball period. The check on the try starts at the point of the play the ball, otherwise you could go all the way back through a set," Archer said
But Henry may take some more cooling down than that. He took his time to make his way to the post-game press conference and was collected as he delivered his critiques to the officials on and off the field.
"It (Roberts kick) should have been dealt with on the field. But it wasn't, for whatever reason. You'd have to ask the people in the middle... they were probably the only people watching the game that would think that," Henry said.
"But We lost Zeb Taia (quad) in the warm-up, we lost our halfback (Ash Taylor, hip) as well in the game. That didn't deter our resolve. I think that we made some great strides with this club in general," Henry said.
"Too good for us tonight, that's what it boils down to. We move on."
Bennett said he was glad the referees had to make the call on the penalty try.
"I was pleased they had the courage to do it. The rule is you can't kick the ball. If it happened against us I'd have to live with it. That's the rule. There's not many penalty tries given. It was all in place for that to happen," Bennett said.