Sydney City Roosters

[Druzik]

All news related to Sydney City here.

[Druzik]

www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25224390-5001023,00.html

Roosters more gritty than pretty

By Nick Walshaw
March 22, 2009 12:00am

ROOSTERS 28 CANBERRA 4

ANTHONY Minichiello knows his body. Has spent three years studying every muscle, bone and tendon. That's what made the courage so remarkable

"Mate, I think I've broken my ankle,'' the Roosters fullback grimaced at trainer Ronnie Palmer. "But let me keep going ... give me one more minute.''

And so Mini stayed, shuffling out to the left touchline in a move that defied all those critics this week suggesting the Roosters give up. That they don't care.

He hobbled without any arm-waving or theatrics. Nothing to suggest a pain that club doctor John Orchard later conceded "would've been fairly intense''.

No, there was absolutely nothing from the face of this gritty fullback that suggested after playing just 22 games in the past three years - and having his spine shaved, neck massaged and back tweaked in the process - he now feared it was all over. Again.

"But he's a fairly tough character,'' Roosters coach Brad Fittler said.

And so Minichiello hobbled like a three-legged hound that needs shooting. He was watching his Roosters teammates attack with 14 minutes to the break and still no score. Standing 10m from the tryline in silent agony.

And then the ball came left ... "Mate, I didn't know what to think,'' Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta laughed later when asked about what happened next. "He was going nowhere.''

And so Mini hobbled. Stumbled almost. Finally diving over in the corner for the try that ended a week of controversy, condemnation and claims of no heart at Bondi Junction.

"It's just a shame it wasn't the last try,'' Fittler said. "They would have showed that forever.''

Instead, the hero left Canberra Stadium sprawled in the aisle of a bus. X-rays taken at nearby Calvary Hospital revealed the injury-plagued fullback, who was replaced immediately after his try, is suffering a high-ankle strain that could keep him out of action for up to eight weeks.

It summed up an afternoon - indeed, a week - for the Roosters that was far more gritty than pretty.

Overcoming their South Sydney shellacking, Clovelly Hotel session, drama surrounding Jake Friend and his DUI charge and a supposed spray from coach Fittler to Anasta that the pair denied.

Anasta was outstanding for the visitors, scoring one try from an intercept and another from sheer persistence when he grounded the Steeden millimetres from the dead ball line. Up front, Mark O'Meley also embodied the Roosters' renewed passion.

He declared, "I'm still feeling concussed'', some 15 minutes after the game. And Willie Mason was potent in his return from summer knee surgery.

Canberra were as ugly as the Roosters' week had been. Normally untouchable at home, their players threw passes to the ground, to the Roosters and even to the touch judge. Only a try on fulltime to backrower Bronson Harrison saved them from becoming the first Raiders side to be kept scoreless at home.

Queanbeyan poster boy Terry Campese gave his side every chance. After just 23 minutes he had kicked two 40-20s, booted a drop-out over 60m and set winger Adrian Purtell into the clear with the tryline begging. Purtell dropped it.

And so within minutes the play was back up the other end. Minichiello with ball in hand. Thinking his ankle was broken.

Fulltime
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 28 (B Anasta 2 S Kenny-Dowall A Minichiello M Pearce tries C Fitzgibbon 3 S Kenny-Dowall goals) bt CANBERRA 4 (B Harrison try) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: J Maxwell, Gerard Sutton.

[stxangiexjo]

Fittler hit with $10,000 fine

The Sydney Roosters have been served with a $10,000 breach notice by the NRL over comments coach Brad Fittler made about refereeing.

Fittler's remarks came at the post-match press conference after his struggling team's 19-12 win over the Sharks on Saturday night.

He was fuming after a no-try ruling against his fullback Jordan Tansey due to obstruction by veteran backrower Craig Fitzgibbon.

"I feel like swearing," Fittler said.

"I thought it was a really, really bad decision ... I just can't believe that.

"Our team is the only team in the comp that they look at them ultra closely.

"It happened with Tupes (former Rooster Anthony Tupou) last year and it just started a trend that every time we had a block play they would just scrutinise us to death ... it's just crap."

NRL chief executive David Gallop said on Monday the comments suggested that referees were being biased in making decisions involving in the Roosters.

"The NRL allows coaches every chance to disagree with decisions and to fairly criticise performances and indeed we had no problem with the coach calling something a bad decision," said Gallop.

"What we have not allowed and will not tolerate are suggestions that referees are biased against a particular team.

"The implications of such a statement in terms of a referee's integrity are more far reaching than the official or coach making the statement may realise at the time."

The Roosters have five business days to respond to the breach notice after which the penalty will either be confirmed or varied.

Disputed matters can be taken to the NRL appeals committee.

AAP

[Druzik]

So basically, despite 2 refs, the same old mistakes are being made... why bother?

[stxangiexjo]

The two refs have made the game flow somewhat. In Freddie's case it was the video ref who was the complete idiot.

[supersteve]

I made a post about the two refs system somewhere here.

I think its been a fantastic innovation personally. Having two refs doesnt mean they will get every decision perfect still, but it has made such a difference. They use the video ref far less now, which to me got to be quite tedious going to him 75% of the time. It has sped up the game too. The ruck area is policed much better. I hope it catches on and is used worldwide in years to come.