Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was frustrated with the performances of the referee and the bunker official despite Canberra’s 20-18 victory over the Knights.
Stuart believes Ashley Klein’s performances led to a slow, ugly game that hurt both sides’ attack and was not aided by video referee Gerard Sutton.
“It was an ugly game,” Stuart said.
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“It simply came to our notice then.
“If these interpretations are the way we go, it will not be attractive if this is the standard we will set from an interpretive point of view with the player on the ground.
“It was hard to attack, but that’s why the teams do it.”
Stuart believes the decision to sin the Raiders boss Elliott Whitehead came from the bunker and wants more power for the field referees, who are closer to the action.
“I don’t think it was a sin bin,” Stuart said.
“It simply came to our notice then.
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Ricky Stuart was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn’t move the ball around with his usual grace
“The answer to that from an emotional standpoint when it comes to that decision, I think Ashley was right.
“But then he has someone in his ear who tells him that he must be shut up for sin.
“So the guy in your ear who tells you he has to be shut down for sin is wrong.
“That’s why I have to tell you about acting on the ground.
“I think it’s messy and it’s backtracking in terms of setting a standard for the game from an attack standpoint.
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End of match pandemonium in Canberra | 00:49
“But I think Ashley got it right where Elliott got a ping for that strip. Ashley was happy to keep playing because Milford fell to Elliott and gave him the ball.
“Ashley got it right, but I’m sure I could bet my lower dollar that someone had in my ear and said it was a strip.
“I think we need to give the referees a little more ability to make their decisions, which are three to five meters from the play.
“Give them the ability to make their decisions because Ashley is one of the most experienced referees in the competition.
“He got these two calls right.”