Match Details
Match Date	30th Mar, 2018
Opponent	South Sydney
Result	Loss 16-20
Coach	Dean Pay
Captain	Josh Jackson
Venue	Homebush (ANZ Stadium)
Crowd	32,471
Referee	Ben Cummins Peter Gough

If the referees keep this up, they will be playing in front of empty stadiums by season end.

Todd Greenberg might not want to admit it but this crackdown on infringements has developed into a farce and is completely overshadowing the football.

The drama and controversy of last week continued at ANZ Stadium yesterday with the match officials blowing 24 penalties all up and again stealing the spotlight from South Sydney's gutsy 20-16 come from behind victory over Canterbury.

Played in front of a Good Friday crowd of 33,471, the Rabbitohs at least gave their fans reason to go home happy after two tries in the final five minutes to Hymel Hunt and Cameron Murray stole the win.

But while the end was a classic finish, unfortunately the aftermath was swamped by controversy after Canterbury skipper Josh Jackson revealed referee Ben Cummins admitted his mistake that led to a crucial Greg Inglis first half try.

While neither Jackson nor coach Dean Pay blamed the loss on the call, they had every reason to blow up.

Approaching halftime with the Dogs ahead 12-0, Cummins called Jackson from one side of the field to the other so he could hand out an official warning for repeated infringements.

The problem for Jackson was he wasn't given sufficient time to get back in position before Inglis barged over.

"I don't know if it was an apology but he basically owned up to the fact that he made a mistake," Jackson said.

"He blew the try and then I went over to talk to him.

"I think it was after that he realised what had happened.

"Jackson was defending at centre after Will Hopoate moved to fullback to cover Moses Mbye who was forced out of the game in the sixth minute after a head collision.

Pay was unimpressed, not just by that call but the continued stop start nature of the game and the decisions.

"The penalty count was 14-4 at one stage," Pay said.

"Like, we can't be that bad and then that good."

One particular call that left many baffled was when Alden Tolman was pinged for not using his foot to play the ball. Replays showed Tolman at least made an effort and you could have found plenty worse throughout the game.

Asked if consistency was the issue, Pay said: "You tell me? Have you seen them let go?

"So if they are going to do it, be consistent about it, that is all we are asking.

"I'm my opinion, it is just bogging the game down.

"Jackson said "you just can't build momentum.

Souths coach Anthony Seibold was equally an at a bunker decision to overturn a live call that resulted in Sam Burgess being placed on report for lifting his forearm into Josh Morris.

Overall, Seibold believed Canterbury set out to push the boundaries.

"It is certainly affecting the spectacle of the game but I thought the Bulldogs came here to make it a real scrap today." Seibold said.

"If you have a look at the amount of times of second efforts in tackles. One thing I thought the referees did do was they kept penalising them. I suppose that was a gutsy move by them because I thought it was warranted."

Source: The Daily Telegraph

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