Quote from Tim Sheens from an article in the paper............
Australia coach Tim Sheens says he’s pleased NRL referee Henry Perenara will be taking charge of Saturday’s Four Nations clash with England at Wembley.
The former New Zealand international has just one full NRL campaign under his belt, but Sheens was pleased with the way he handled England’s win over Wales on Saturday.
The veteran coach was critical of the way English official Phil Bentham controlled the Kangaroos’ 26-12 win over New-Zealand in Warrington last Friday, claiming the speed of the ruck was too slow.
“Our game and the England game were like chalk and cheese," Sheens told AAP in London. “It was nothing like you see in the NRL or the Super League and I wasn’t happy."
Perenara, 31, who counts Melbourne and St George Illawarra among his former clubs, was one of the first ex-players to take up refereeing as part of the NRL’s cadet program in 2007, and also praised by England coach Steve McNamara following his side’s 42-4 victory.
“The rucks were something like what you see in Super league and in the NRL in Saturday’s game and it was a much better game. If he can achieve that again we will be very happy," Sheens said........
End of quote.
One thing that baffles me is, it was the Australian players who were guilty of slowing down the play around the ruck and these days a coach doesn't have to wait until half time to get the message across to his players what he wants happening on the field......why didn't Sheens send out word to Cameron Smith to tell his forwards to get off the player in the ruck if he wanted the game to flow quicker......a boof-headed comment Mr.Sheens if you ask me.
I hope we don't get whinge after whinge after the OZ Vs Eng game on Sat. regardless who wins I don't wish to read about Perenara's mistakes. A good hard fast game with no injuries would be nice and what happens on the field stays on the field for the next time they meet in the final....well that's my prediction for the final anyway....
Cheers & good luck.
Tim Sheens happy with rookie ref..??
posted on 3/11/11
Well thats that a change that Sheens is happy with the ref. I just hope Sheens comments don't make the ref give the 50/50 decisions Australia's way.
I'm sure if England win, which I'm aware is odds against i know, I'm sure Sheens will whinge again. Lets be honest here and admit that Sheens would like Tony Archer to ref all the Australian games. Is there a more blatent pro Australian ref than Archer, i really don't think so.
I'm just happy that Archer is not involved in this years 4 Nations.
posted on 3/11/11
I think it would be bad for any country to have a home born referee because I think he would be more against them thinking every decision will be rideculed some way or another.
posted on 3/11/11
Tony Archer reffed the 4 nationa final last year, and done all he could to ensure an Australian victory, but failed.
posted on 3/11/11
All international RL matches should be reffed by a neutral ref .... anything else makes a mockery of it. As soon as you have an aussie, kiwi or pom reffing their own team, it'll always lead to some accusations of bias......
Just my opinion ... i'm sure it's very simplistic - but it tends to work for the vast majority of other sports that i can think of - especially professional ones....
posted on 3/11/11
Off subject a bit, but that's what gets me when at the conclusion of every S/L preview or match report it has got the name of the referee and his home town.....why is this.
It shouldn't matter where he is from..so why..
posted on 4/11/11
I agree that when a team loses a close game the losing coach has a dig at the ref over some close decisions. The coach rarely mentions the shortcoming of his team. He forgets the amoumt of times they get caught offside or the amount of fouls the commit. He also forgets the amount of times they drop the ball and the amount of time they mess around at the play the ball.
Not once last year did McNamara mention how poor Archer was, and Archer was poor. Can you imagine how much Sheens would have cried if a English ref had performed as poorly as Archer did involing a England and Australia game.