Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker has called on the NRL to address the issue of obstruction rules, citing inconsistencies that are causing frustration among players and fans alike.
The Roosters found themselves on the receiving end of a contentious obstruction decision last weekend when Joey Manu was denied a try by the bunker during their match against Penrith.
The NRL later acknowledged the error, with head of football Graham Annesley admitting that Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards would not have been able to prevent Manu from scoring the try.
However, Walker insists that this was not the only decision that left him bewildered, asserting that there have been as many as five questionable calls in the opening four rounds of the competition.
“I’ve witnessed five instances this year where they’ve made the most peculiar obstruction calls,” he stated. “However, there are occasions where they seem uncertain, saying things like ‘he might have reached there’ or ‘he might not have’; the lack of consistency is frustrating for players.”
“The uncertainty would be equally frustrating for fans, sitting with crossed fingers, unsure of the outcome,” he added. “It would be beneficial to reach a resolution soon and put this matter to rest because nobody wants to keep discussing obstruction rules.”
NRL officials maintain that there should be no confusion surrounding the rule, asserting that the laws and interpretations regarding lead runners have remained unchanged for this season.
Despite this, several contentious calls have arisen, particularly concerning decoy runners halting in the defensive line, exemplified by Manly’s disallowed try against Parramatta in round three. However, the NRL contends that this rule has been in place for nearly a decade and that the criteria for identifying obstructions remain consistent.
Furthermore, league authorities are confident that referees have the necessary discretion to determine whether obstructed defenders would have been involved in the play. This sentiment echoes warnings from Ivan Cleary and Wayne Bennett about the dangers of rules becoming too rigid on the matter.
Roosters hooker Brandon Smith expressed support for the NRL’s decision to acknowledge their error over the weekend, stating that it didn’t leave a negative impression. “It might be frustrating for some people, but it’s commendable for the NRL to admit their mistake,” he remarked. “As long as we learn from these errors, it’s all good.”
“It seems like they’re trying to avoid making strict rulings in the competition, and that was one example,” Smith continued. “It was quite ambiguous; I didn’t realize the obstruction involved Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) until the end of the game, so that was quite strange.”
