‘My contract isn’t big enough to pay the fine,’ Kevin Walters fumes.
After his team’s controversial loss to the Storm, Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters has gone as close to crossing the line as possible.
Kevin Walters, coach of the Brisbane Broncos, was furious following his team’s 24-16 loss to the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne.
In a match that had it all, including some bad blood that threatened to boil over throughout the game, with four sin bins.
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Herbie Farnworth was sin binned in the 37th minute for a professional foul, Pat Carrigan was sin binned for a controversial hip drop, and the Storm’s Aaron Pene and Broncos’ Tom Flegler were both sin binned.
“I’m pretty frustrated,” Walters confessed. “We came here to play football, and we’ve been doing that all year.” I just don’t think we got a football game.
“I’ll accept the defeat; we’ve lost before.” But it was two good teams going at it, and it never became a football game.”
When asked about the source of his annoyance, Walters stated, “I guess we were behind on the scoreboard — that frustrated me more than anything.”
“But Thursday night, prime-time and we didn’t see a good game of football.”
When asked if some of the decisions made by referee Todd Smith and the bunker played a role, Walters remained silent.
“I’m not sure how it happened,” he confessed. “Three guys were sin binned. When that happens, it’s difficult to win.
“Was it a fair sin bin?” I’m not going to say anything about it because my contract isn’t large enough to cover the fine.”
In the 37th minute, it was the Broncos’ turn to be in hot water after their first try was ruled a penalty try after Harry Grant was deemed to have pushed Herbie Farnworth over as the pair chased a grubber.
Farnworth was adjudged to have impeded Reimis Smith on the chase after Jahrome Hughes put a grubber through the line.
Smith was called for a professional foul and marched for 10 minutes because he was unlikely to score.
However, Michael Ennis stated in Fox League commentary that “a penalty is sufficient there” at the time.
Pat Carrigan was sin binned in the second half for a hip drop tackle, despite the fact that he did not appear to land on the back of Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s legs.
“There’s no doubt he loses his leg (but) I think Carrigan is just slipping down though,” Ennis said.
“I know there has got to be intent but when the top of your ribs fall down there… it wasn’t the classic hip drop,” said Tallis.
“We’re going to keep on seeing it and I suppose if there’s any weight, any pressure on your lower leg, it’s called the hip-drop.”
“The danger for Patty is that he’s done it before,” Bryan Fletcher added. I don’t think he meant it, but I doubt many of them do. Based on what’s happened, I believe he’ll be in trouble for Origin one.”
“Nelson is a big boy,” Carrigan said full-time. I was just trying to tackle him when he beat me on the outside shoulder.
“I’m not even sure if I landed on him. It wasn’t a hip drop, in my opinion.
“I hope the big fella is all right.” We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
