Smith blows whistle on refs
The NRL's two referees system came under fire with Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith calling for the introduction of a cricket-style referral system after his side's 16-14 loss to Brisbane.
Both Smith and Storm coach Craig Bellamy were fuming after referees Ben Cummins and Tony De Las Heras appeared to miss a "blatant knock on" at dummy half by Brisbane hooker Aaron Gorrell before halfback Peter Wallace scored in the 44th to but his side up 16-8.
Even the players from both sides appeared to pull up when Gorrell fumbled the football on Friday night.
"In the trials I wasn't really convinced two referees were good for our game and last week I thought they gave a good performance down in Melbourne," Smith said.
"This week I think it shifted me back over the other side of the fence.
"All the players and clubs were told the two refs were going to help the game, we weren't going to have to use so much technology, they were going to pick up everything.
"I think tonight they let a couple of things through the net.
"I think a referral system like cricket's is a good idea, but it's hard to know whether that's one of the things we should do while we've got two refs out there to try to take that technology out of it and make it a better game for the fans."
Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer agreed that trying to eliminate the use of the video too much could be a bad mistake.
"There's times to use them, that's for sure," said Lockyer, almost acting as a witness for Smith's case that the referees should have asked the video referee Bill Harrigan to scrutinise the lead up to Wallace's try, which proved to be the difference between victory and defeat for Melbourne.
"With two refs there's an extra set of eyes and they're going to see a lot more than they did with one ref but there's still a time to go to the video ref."
Bellamy didn't beat around the bush over the incident, which is certain to come under the attention of referees boss Robert Finch.
"We have two referees out there and you would think one of them would see it," Bellamy said.
"It's disappointing for my players to be beaten by two points after that incident.
"We all make mistakes and I've got no problems with neither of them seeing it because sometimes bodies get in the way.
"But I can't believe they didn't go to the video ref.
"Last week they didn't go to the video ref at all but they went upstairs three times after that (Wallace try)."
Bellamy also seemed surprised that winger Anthony Quinn was placed on report for a high tackle on Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday in the 55th minute.
Quinn's forearm struck Thaiday in the head but Bellamy claimed his winger carried his arm no different to any front-rower charging into the opposition.
"Maybe winger's aren't allow do that," he said.
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