Badger Went Too Far: Ref Boss

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday July 23, 2008

BRETT KEEBLE RUGBY LEAGUE

NRL referees coach Robert Finch described Gavin Badger's decision to send off St George Illawarra international Jason Ryles as a "brain snap" and dropped the controversial whistleblower from first grade this weekend.

Badger dismissed Ryles in the 25th minute of the Dragons' fiery 26-0 loss to Melbourne at Olympic Park on Monday night after Ryles and Storm prop Jeff Lima fought for leg room in a scrum and traded kicks to each other's shins.

The scrum was packed just two minutes after an all-in brawl, from which Badger sin-binned Melbourne's Billy Slater and Adam Blair and Dragons pivot Jamie Soward.

Ryles had no case to answer when the NRL match review committee scrutinised the incident yesterday and is clear to play against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Monday.

Melbourne led 4-0 when the France-bound former NSW and Australian prop was banished, and Dragons coach Nathan Brown said the send-off "ruined what was going to be a good, tough game of football".

Explaining why Badger had not been appointed to one of the eight NRL games this weekend, Finch told The Herald: "It was a brain snap, and I think it's a decision he probably, in hindsight, would sit back and say he needed to take a little bit more time with.

"I thought he handled the previous incident [the brawl] very well, but that one [the Ryles send-off] was a bit dusty," Finch said. "I think he needed to take some sort of action, but certainly not that much."

Slater (grade two) and Dragons centre Beau Scott (grade one) were charged with contrary conduct for their involvement in the brawl. Slater faces a two-game suspension and Scott a one-match ban unless they successfully fight their charges at the judiciary.

Badger infuriated Newcastle players and officials the previous week. The Knights overcame his 10-4 penalty count, which was 10-1 early in the second half, to beat Penrith 30-18 at CUA Stadium.

Newcastle coach Brian Smith declined to comment last night, but Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said he was not surprised when told Badger had been dropped.

"I don't really need to say much more about the referees because they're doing a fine job themselves. Their actions on the field are doing the talking for them," Burraston said.

"You've only got to look at Jason Ryles's send-off for an example. He [Badger] was the same referee we had at Penrith, and he doesn't have a game this weekend."

Burraston would not comment when asked if the demotion had come a week too late.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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