Kasey Badger, the bunker official under fire for allowing this to happen. This comes after a somewhat controversial call she made during Round 13 of the NRL. The events unfolded during a rugby league game between the Melbourne Storm and the visiting Gold Coast Titans. Referee Badger had found that Ryan Papenhuyzen was deprived of the opportunity to contest Sam Verrills. Gold Coast coach Wayne Hasler is disappointed by the ruling. It would have a profound effect on the game’s result.
In one crucial play in the game’s dying moments, Sam Verrills tried to dig his way through a battalion of Melbourne defenders sprawled over the ruck. Referee Kasey Badger’s no-call denied Verrills a potential game-tying try. This was due to a high tackle on his fellow compatriot, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. That was an important ruling. Only a few minutes later, the Melbourne Storm crossed for a match-sealing try, making their 28-16 win over the Gold Coast Titans a reality.
Coach’s Reaction
Wayne Hasler, manager of the Baltimore team, took to the national media immediately after the match to express his anger over Badger’s decision. Most importantly, he wanted to call attention to certain powerful elements of the game. That was never his goal, only to get out and lobby.
“I was just pointing out a few things.” – Wayne Hasler
Hasler isn’t just talking about this one incident. In doing so, they brought to light more serious issues with the uniform quality of officiating across the league. He cited an NRL missive to clubs warning them of players ruck lying. Although this tactic is allowed, he stressed that it should not come at the expense of integrity of competition.
“There’s an email from the NRL about players lying in the ruck; that’s fine, let them lie in the ruck, but you shouldn’t lose the advantage.” – Wayne Hasler
Yet the coach’s frustrations speak to a rising alarm among teams about how much a game-changing call can decide the match.
Upcoming Matches
The NRL rolls on into Round 14, and the Newcastle Knights are again welcoming archrivals Manly Sea Eagles to Hunter Stadium. As teams prepare for this week’s clash, discussions surrounding officiating may linger, as coaches and players seek clarity on how similar incidents will be handled moving forward.
Kasey Badger’s decision has continued to spark debate, showing how high the stakes are in every match call. Smart coaches understand that their team’s victory can hinge on these few consequential seconds. This knowledge leads to increased scrutiny regarding the refereeing choice on the entire league.
