Refereeing and Queensland Reds post-match actions to be scrutinised
The Queensland Reds have lodged a formal complaint with Super Rugby Pacific over the standard of refereeing in their controversial defeat against the Chiefs on Friday, which ended with match officials being booed from Suncorp Stadium.
But in what could add salt to their wounds, the Reds will also face possible sanctions from Super Rugby Pacific bosses for breaching tournament rules after the match; Manager Les Kiss prevents players from giving media interviews in order to protect them from fines.
The Reds lost 31-21 to the Chiefs, all but ending Queensland’s hopes of finishing in the top three and hosting the preliminary final.
Kiwi referee Marcus Playle and his assistants were booed at Suncorp Stadium, while fans were outraged after a series of questionable calls against the Reds during the 12-5 penalty count.
The most controversial decision was Queensland second rower Seru Uru’s hasty decision at half-time. The Reds players were confident that Uru had scored with a goal-line scrum to put the home side 14-10 ahead, but Playle ruled this was postponed before a TMO review due to obstructed visibility.
After just 26 seconds and using only one angle, TMO Glenn Newman said there was no clear evidence to overturn the decision and half-time was wasted.
Subsequent replays showed Uru bringing the ball down, with Reds players pointing to the stadium screen.
Former Wallabies star Tim Horan told Stan Sport: “How could there not be something clear there? They should have looked a little more. The TMO took one look and called half-time. That’s a bad decision.”
Kiss and Reds captain Fraser McReight were diplomatic about the refereeing during post-match media duties, but the Queensland Rugby Union was sufficiently aggrieved that they subsequently lodged a complaint with Super Rugby Pacific.
“The QRU has raised concerns about managing matches directly with Super Rugby Pacific and will respect the process and will not comment further on the matter,” QRU chief executive David Hanham said in a statement on Sunday.
Informed sources said the QRU’s concerns did not focus on individual decisions, but rather raised the question of why the tournament had appointed an inexperienced referee for a crucial match between two top-six sides with the home finals at stake. The match was Playle’s eighth Super match.
A Super Rugby Pacific spokesman said referee bosses would review the performances of Playle and Newman during the standard review on Monday. A similarly hasty try-ban decision by the Waratahs’ Triston Reilly against the Reds in March was later declared wrong by Super Rugby Pacific.
Super Rugby Pacific officials will also look at Queensland’s post-match actions.
Queensland, unhappy with the decisions made throughout the match – particularly in the final quarter – were not happy after the match either, and after the coach and captain were interviewed, Kiss shut down all further player interviews with broadcaster Stan Sport. Stan Sport, this imprint is owned by Nine.
Kiss’s move was an attempt to stop his players from getting into trouble when asked about the refereeing, but lowering the shutters was also a breach of Super Rugby Pacific tournament rules, which stipulate that the coach, captain and at least two players must be present for a post-match interview with the home broadcaster.
Kiss told Stan Sport he even considered removing McReight from his post-match duties, saying: “I’m feeling ‘Frase’ tonight. Just to protect him, I was reluctant to let him go in front of the media to tell you the truth.”
Informed sources say broadcaster Stan Sport was unhappy with this and reported it to Super Rugby Pacific.
The Reds could face a fine from head office this week for the breach, under tournament rules. But the sanction is more likely to be a warning letter from Super Rugby Pacific boss Jack Mesley, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
The Reds sit in sixth place with three matches remaining: away matches against Force and Moana and home matches against Fiji Drua. But the Waratahs’ final hopes, six points behind the Reds, depend on their neighbors to the north disintegrating on the way home.
But the Waratahs also need a win and that has become even more difficult ahead of a tough trip to Fiji this week given the spate of injury concerns stemming from their 31-26 defeat against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The Tahs may have to call up a hooker from the rugby club, along with lock Ethan Dobbins (foot) and Folau Fainga’a (knee), along with lock Angus Blyth (ankle), back-rower Peter Samu (knee) and winger Andrew Kellaway (concussion).
Watch every match Super Rugby Pacific lively and special Stan Sports.
Iain Payten is senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
