Match Details
Match Date	29th Aug, 2015
Opponent	Newcastle
Result	Win 20-18
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	James Graham
Venue	Newcastle (Hunter Stadium)
Crowd	23,604
Referee	Adam Devcich Chris James

Canterbury coach Des Hasler says he will send NRL head of football Todd Greenberg a breach notice after what he believes was a ‘‘misrepresentation’’ of the 10-metre rule against Newcastle.

Hasler’s comments will surely come under scrutiny at NRL headquarters, particularly after calling one of the referees ‘‘out of his depth’’ in what was an intense encounter on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs held off a brave Knights outfit to score a thrilling 20-18 win, but it didn’t stop Hasler from taking aim at the game’s officials.

‘‘It was pretty obvious in [Newcastle’s] intent, getting off their line,’’ Hasler said post-game. ‘‘You had a couple of times there where [the referee] could’ve done something about it, but it was just out of his depth, the poor fella.’’

Hasler began the press conference praising Newcastle’s performance in what was the final home game for a number of Knights players, including skipper Kurt Gidley. Then the two time premiership-winning coach turned on the referees.

‘‘It was a pretty willing kind of game,’’ Hasler said. ‘‘But probably that’s just where the raps stop.

‘‘I’m pretty disappointed in some of the interpretations of the rules.

‘‘I didn’t know the game had gone back to five metres. And in fact, I think I might send Todd Greenberg a breach notice. In fact, I will.

‘‘I want to send them a breach notice for misrepresentation.’’

Asked which particular interpretation he was upset with, he said: ‘‘Just the offside.’’

Hasler was the first coach to be slapped with a suspended $10,000 fine after the governing body banned coaches criticising referees at the start of the season. He also copped a $5000 fine for failing to adhere to media guidelines in June.

Aside from the officiating, Hasler has played down the seriousness of a wrist injury to halfback Trent Hodkinson during the win over Newcastle.

Hodkinson was felled in a brutal hit by Tariq Sims just after setting up Tim Lafai for a try midway through the first half, immediately going off and failing to return.

Second-rower Frank Pritchard was also put on report for a ‘‘coathanger’’ on Jake Mamo in just the third minute.

Hasler insisted Hodkinson’s substitution was precautionary and said he would go for scans when the team returned to Sydney.

‘‘We didn’t want to risk him, that’s why he didn’t come back on in the second half,’’ Hasler said.

‘‘There’s always the option of resting him next week. We’ll wait and see how he comes up.’’

The visiting Bulldogs were pushed all the way by a Knights outfit celebrating Kurt Gidley’s final home game and 250th NRL match.

The Knights had a number of chances to steal the win in the closing stages, but the Bulldogs held on to extend their winning streak to four and move to fifth with just one regular-season game to go.

Knights interim coach Danny Buderus praised his team’s fight on an emotional night in the Hunter.

‘‘The belief was there from the first minute to the 80th,’’ he said. ‘‘They nearly stole it. It was disappointing at times ... but the fight was there; the belief was there. And that’s what I was after.’’

Source: The Sun Herald

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