Interim Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley did not miss when criticizing the decision to disallow Brent Naden’s try in Saturday’s 36-12 loss to the Sharks.
The Tigers had a chance to make the scoreline a little less grim when Sharks forward Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a late shot on Daine Laurie.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
It looked as though they had capitalized off the penalty and one-man advantage when Naden ran through several Sharks players to score under the posts with just over 10 minutes to go.
However on-field referee Ben Cummins sent it up to the bunker to check for an obstruction.
Bunker official Gerard Sutton ruled that Tigers prop Zane Musgrove had obstructed Cronulla’s Royce Hunt.
“The Tigers player is in front of the ball, Royce Hunt has to then push around him to try to defend. The Tigers player is not entitled to be in front of the ball and in the line,” Sutton said.
Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane wasn’t too pleased, saying “oh goodness,” while Steve Roach added: “they had a free grab on him.”
Kimmorley acknowledged in his post-game press conference that the Sharks simply wanted the win more and their ruck speed “was the difference” in the game.
However he also took aim at the obstruction call, without being prompted, saying he was a “bit curious” to know what Musgrove was meant to do given he had ran through the line as part of a shape the Tigers were running.
“I’m not too sure where a front-rower is meant to go when we run some shape and he goes through the line and then gets back because the ball is behind him to get ready for the next play-the-ball,” Kimmorley said.
“Bit curious to know how he’s got to disappear from a game of football when he’s actually gone through and not ran into a defender as the first phase of the play… and then we go out the back and the ball goes backwards.
“We ask these players to get in shape for the next play-the-ball, which means he’s got to run backwards and all of a sudden you have to disappear.
“So I don’t know how that decision is awarded or adjudicated but I’d love to know how a player can disappear when he’s trying to get back on side to be a part of the next play-the-ball.
“Because if they’re not in shape I’m going to be criticizing them over why they’re not in shape.”
Originally published as ‘Love to know how a player can disappear’: Tigers coach tees off over obstruction call
.
