Match Details
Match Date	14th Jul, 2013
Opponent	Melbourne
Result	Win 39-0
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	16,406
Referee	Gerard Sutton Alan Shortall

‘I would rather stop the try than let them score.’

Josh Reynolds

Even dumped NSW utility Josh Reynolds thought he would be sinbinned for a professional foul in Canterbury’s 39-0 defeat of an under-strength Melbourne, which sparked further criticism of refereeing and match scheduling.

With the premiers trailing 12-0 just after half-time, Justin O’Neill repeatedly soccered a loose ball ahead and appeared certain to score until Reynolds grabbed onto the back of his jersey and slid under the Storm centre to kick the ball clear.

Remarkably, referee Alan Shortall simply blew a penalty and allowed play to re-start without giving video referees Luke Patten and Luke Phillips time to consider whether more severe action should be taken.

‘‘If that wasn’t a sin bin, I don’t know what is,’’ Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.

‘‘It’s a dead-set sin bin but, I am sure if we got a try there and there was a sin-binning, the result would probably be the same.’’

Reynolds, who starred for Canterbury just 48 hours after being called to a face-to-face meeting with Blues coach Laurie Daley to learn that he was not required for Origin III, admitted his only thought had been to stop O’Neill from scoring.

‘‘It probably would have been a try and I would rather stop the try than let them score one,’’ Reynolds said.

Asked if he had expected to be sin-binned over the incident, Reynolds said: ‘‘It slipped in my head for a second.’’

While match officials are expected to have explaining to do when they review the game with NRL referees’ boss Daniel Anderson, Bulldogs coach Des Hasler had no problems with Reynolds.

‘‘He just enjoys playing footy – I thought he was pretty good out there today,’’ Hasler said.

Reynolds admitted it had been a long drive from Belmore to Coogee on Friday afternoon to receive the news from Daley that Sydney Roosters back-rower Boyd Cordner would take his spot on the NSW bench.

Reynolds, who played in the opening two Origins, said he had first become aware that he might be axed when Daley told him and Cordner he would let them know the final make-up of the side after skipper Paul Gallen succumbed to a foot injury.

‘‘I had a feeling then and I was bracing myself for the worst,’’ Reynolds said. ‘‘I was actually in Belmore [on Friday afternoon] when Laurie called me and said ‘can you come and see me faceto-face?’

‘‘It was a tough drive. I rang mum and dad and said ‘I am going to talk to Laurie and there might be some bad news’. They were supportive, as they usually are.

‘‘I am not going to lie – it killed me. I wanted to be out there on Wednesday. It is a massive occasion and I would love to be out there with the boys.

‘‘But I wanted to come out here and just be enthusiastic and I think we just out-enthused Melbourne – even if they didn’t have their big stars.’’

With the Storm held scoreless for the first time since the 2008 grand final, Bellamy wasn’t making excuses for his team’s performance.

However, he questioned why Canterbury and Melbourne were forced to play without their Origin stars and both have byes next weekend.

‘‘It’s strange to have a grand final replay without Origin players but that is not my decision,’’ Bellamy said.

‘‘We were disappointed with today’s performance and a touch embarrassed.’’

After scoring three unconverted tries in the first half, the Bulldogs always appeared to be in control and they brilliantly executed set moves to expose Melbourne’s defence out wide.

With Ben Barba continuing to build towards last year’s Dally M medal-winning form, Canterbury also played some razzle dazzle football and Hasler pointed out that they were missing star forwards Sam Kasiano (virus) and Frank Pritchard (knee) as well as NSW centre Josh Morris.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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