James Graham fears the great game of rugby league ‘might start looking like rugby union’ after the Broncos were dudded by a controversial penalty in their clash with the Roosters.
The Broncos were penalised for a high shot on Roosters second-rower Sitili Tupouinua after James Tedesco jumped at the opportunity to call for a captain’s challenge on a tackle.
The replay showed that Thomas Flegler had made contact with Tupouinua and so the Roosters were awarded the penalty, with Adam Keighran nailing the goal to seal a 21-20 win.
A frustrated Michael Ennis was practically speechless when asked about the incident on Big League Wrap.
“If that’s a penalty... I don’t know... you take this one James, I’ve had enough of this,” he said.
And so Graham did take it and questioned where the game was heading.
“No one wants to see contact with the head. But if that’s what we want our game to look like... I don’t know.,” he said.
“Who are we trying to appeal to there with penalising that sort of play? Who are we appealing to as a sport?
“We might start looking like rugby union if we’re not careful. You watch some of their games and as a spectacle you’re just like ‘wow, are they really being penalised for that? What is that for?’
The call cost the Broncos the game but it won’t really have any impact on how their season ends. But Graham is concerned that if the referees can’t find some consistency in their calls, something like this could cost a team in a crucial game.
“We need to tread a very careful line here with what we penalise and what we don’t,” he said.
“Obviously this cost the Broncos two points. Thankfully it was just a two-point game and it’s not going to have too much bearing on the competition, but you always point to that example... what if it cost (a team) in a big game?”
It wasn’t the only moment in that game that made headlines. Star Roosters enforcer Victor Radley was penalised and is looking at a three to four week ban for taking out Albert Kelly’s legs in an attempt to stop a Broncos field goal.
The penalty saw the Broncos take the lead momentarily after Selwyn Cobbo slotted the goal. The Roosters ultimately won the game, ironically off a penalty goal, but it’s a situation Graham knows all too well.
In 2015 he was penalised for attacking the legs of Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds midfield goal attempt in the final two minutes in the bitter grand final rematch.
So Graham could empathise for Radley but offered up some advice for the fiery lock moving forward.
“The intention from Radley, is all guts. He’s doing his best there to stop the field goal attempt but that play of guts and determination and will to want to win for your team... you’ve just got to be smarter,: Graham said.
“I was guilty of doing it and thinking I was just doing the right thing but you’ve just got to have that little bit of smarts.
“There’s a lot of talk about whether Victor needs to change his style. I don’t think it needs to be a massive change, just in that situation he can’t dive like that. It’s just as simple as that.
“I learnt the hard way and I’m sure Victor will too.”
Story first published on Fox Sports