News 15/4: Sheens rues a video nasty

[jamesgould]

Sheens rues a video nasty

Brian Carney forces the ball to seal the Knights comeback win. Photo: Craig Golding.

By Brad Walter
May 15, 2006

WESTS TIGERS 16 NEWCASTLE 18

WESTS Tigers coach Tim Sheens last night described captain Brett Hodgson as the best fullback in the game, but his opinion of video referee Bill Harrigan wasn't quite as glowing after the pair were involved in a controversial finish at Campbelltown Stadium that resulted in Newcastle snatching victory.

Describing the NRL's former leading whistleblower as "I know everything" Harrigan, Sheens questioned his decision to award a 77th-minute try to Brian Carney after Hodgson had fumbled a kick from the Irish winger under intense pressure from Matt Gidley.

While stopping short of accusing Harrigan of getting the call wrong, Sheens - the City Origin coach in Friday night's 12-10 loss to Country - demanded to know why he had needed just one video replay to make such a crucial ruling in a match that rivalled the Knights-Cowboys clash on Easter Sunday for game of the year so far.

"I've had two games lost in two days in the last three minutes so I'm doing it a little hard at the moment on Mothers' Day, but I won't go home and abuse my mother. I'll go home and be a good boy," Sheens said.

"But I'll have something to say if I find he [Gidley] put his hand in on that last jump for the ball. I mean, why look at it so fast. It's 'I know everything' Harrigan, I suppose. If he's right, I'll apologise for that statement - but if he's wrong, I'll expect one from him."

With the Tigers having hit the lead for the first time in the match just six minutes earlier, when a piece of Benji Marshall magic that saw the star five-eighth beat three defenders before sending Shane Elford racing away for Chris Heighington to score, the premiers appeared set to pull off a stunning victory.

Hodgson, who was named man-of-the-match, said he had felt a push in the back as he went up for the kick but wasn't sure if it was deliberate interference by Gidley.

"I don't know what's worse, losing by 40 or losing with one minute to go," Hodgson said. "They're both hollow feelings."

Even Newcastle coach Michael Hagan wasn't sure if it was a try when he saw Hodgson fumble the ball and Carney toe ahead to score, but after watching the replay on the big screen, he was confident the visitors would go ahead 18-16.

Regardless of how the game was decided, though, Hagan was full of praise for Hodgson's performance.

"If ever a bloke was trying to play himself into a rep team, I thought today - on the back of what he did on Friday night - he handled everything superbly, was very skilful and he wouldn't be out of place in the NSW side on that form," Hagan said.

The absence of Test fullback Anthony Minichiello has put the Blues No.1 jersey up for grabs and Hodgson is vying with St George Illawarra's Ben Hornby for the job.

But according to Sheens, it is no contest - Hodgson should regain the jumper he last wore in 2002.

"As far as I'm concerned, he is the best fullback in the business, irrespective of who is fit and who isn't fit," Sheens said.

"He does more, he's got a better rounded game. Some can run, some are great kick returners, but Brett's got it all as far as I'm concerned and his goalkicking will be a bonus as far as NSW is concerned."

It was goalkicking that ultimately decided yesterday's match, with Hodgson missing the conversion of Daniel Fitzhenry's 15th-minute try that he helped set up after Andrew Johns had earlier broke through the defence on halfway to put Knights fullback David Seage over.

When Johns fed Steve Simpson to score in the 28th minute, the Knights took a 12-4 lead - but the home side always appeared as if they were going to finish stronger and trailed by just two points at the interval after Marshall laid on a try for Elford.

A Johns penalty goal was the only change to the score until the 71st minute when some more Marshall brilliance sent the 14,499 crowd into a frenzy, but their joy was short lived.

"I'm very proud of the guys, particularly those backing up [from Friday night]," Sheens said. "I just hope that it is the players that decide the outcome and the officials don't play a part in it."

From: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/sheens-rues-a-video-nasty/2006/05/14/1147545210899.html

Carney plays down clincher
By Brad Walter
May 15, 2006

NEWCASTLE winger Brian Carney didn't know what tackle it was - or even what the score was - when he came up with the match-winning play that snatched the Knights their third late win in as many weeks.

In a thrilling finish to the Campbelltown Stadium clash, after Benji Marshall seemed to have secured victory for Wests Tigers by laying on a 71st-minute try for Chris Heighington, Carney broke down the western touch line and kicked twice before scoring to give Newcastle an 18-16 win.

Knights coach Michael Hagan described Carney as his side's best player yesterday, but the 29-year-old Irishman tried to deflect credit on to teammates.

"I was just trying to slice it into play … That shows you how much of a team game it is," Carney said. "If Matt Gidley hadn't put that extra pressure on Brett Hodgson it would have been a nothing kick. I was just glad when I toed it ahead that the ball stayed in. I would have looked stupid if it hadn't."

Asked if it had been the last tackle, he said: "I wouldn't have a clue. I wasn't even sure what the score was."

But veteran Knights prop Craig Smith, who played alongside Carney at Wigan between 2002 and 2004, said the Great Britain vice-captain had been a regular match-winner in the Super League after switching from Gaelic football.

"He's not the most gifted rugby league player going around but he's one of the most dedicated and not afraid to have a go at things," Smith said.

"I've seen him do things like that at Wigan and he popped up at the right time of the game for us today.

"He's the jovial joker but he has slotted straight into Newcastle and the NRL like he has been here for years.

"He has turned himself into a bit of an athlete by working hard, and he goes about the game in the same manner, so it's not surprising to see him do things like he did today."

From: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/carney-plays-down-clincher/2006/05/14/1147545210896.html

Shining Knight breaks Benji spell
By James Hooper
May 15, 2006

WESTS Tigers coach Tim Sheens launched a scathing attack on video referee Bill Harrigan after Irish winger Brian Carney scored a crucial closing-stages try to nudge Newcastle to victory over the premiers yesterday.

Carney unearthed a four-leaf clover in Campbelltown by conjuring a miracle try with three minutes remaining but coach Sheens failed to see the funny side of the pivotal play.

Trailing 16-14 with nine minutes remaining, Carney "sliced" a towering bomb skyward with the Knights attacking the Tigers left flank.

Inspirational Wests custodian Brett Hodgson appeared to have the threatening kick covered until Newcastle centre Matt Gidley arrived, forcing the NSW Origin hopeful to make his only mistake of the afternoon.

Carney swooped, toeing the ball ahead before scooting around Jamaal Lolesi to score the match-winner, deflating the premiers.

Sheens fumed. Hodgson questioned Gidley's challenge. Harrigan took one look at it and awarded the try.

"I've had two games lost in two days in the last three minutes so I'm doing it a little hard at the moment on Mother's Day," Sheens said.

"But I won't go home and abuse my mother. I'll go home and be a good boy.

"I'll have something to say if I find that Gidley put his hand in on that last jump for the ball. I mean why look at it so fast.

"It's 'I-know-everything Harrigan' I suppose. If he's right I'll apologise for that statement but if he's wrong I'll expect one from him.

"It's a bit disappointing. I think there were a couple of decisions that could have been looked at a little harder."

It was a cruel twist from the footballing gods cast down upon the Tigers and Hodgson, who, up until three minutes from fulltime, had punched courageously above his wiry frame, underlining his name for selection in the NSW Origin side to be announced this morning.

In a thrilling encounter, Carney's try overshadowed the incredible natural talent of Tigers ace Benji Marshall, who delved deep into his magic kit only six minutes earlier to weave a miracle play for what seemed certain to transpire into a Wests victory.

Tigers captain Hodgson agreed with Sheens about the Carney try, offering: "I thought there was definitely a bit of doubt there.

"I definitely did get a push in the back. Whether he was going for the ball or not, I'm still unaware.

"I haven't seen a replay yet.

"I don't know what's worse, losing by forty or losing with one minute to go. They're both very low feelings."

But the Knights were dining out on their late stroke of good fortune, centre Gidley maintaining his challenge on Hodgson was completely legal.

Man of the moment Carney was making light of his game-breaking kick after the Knights had led 12-10 at halftime, courtesy of tries to David Seage and Steve Simpson.

"I sliced it into play. If Matt Gidley hadn't exerted that bit of extra effort and put pressure on Brett Hodgson it was a nothing kick," Carney said.

The Tigers fought ferociously in what was a second half arm-wrestle, Marshall slicing the Knights open after darting across field, feigning to step one way before putting Shane Elford into space with an inside ball the other. Chris Heighington finished the movement.

It was a magical piece of play in a magical match. Call the result the luck of the Irish.

From: http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,19135290-5001023,00.html