LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Referee Wyatt Raymond made a controversial decision to penalize Bulldogs forward Josh Curran for appearing to impersonate an official during a match against Parramatta.
Curran called out to Parramatta's Matt Doorey that he was offside, leading Doorey to stay out of the play before eventually making a tackle on Blake Wilson.
Raymond's decision was initially confusing to Bulldogs fans and players, but he explained to Reed Mahoney that Curran's actions were against the spirit of the game.
The referee stated, "That's against the true spirit of the game."
While it is not uncommon for defenders to try to distract opponents by screaming for the ball, Curran's situation was different because he was standing far ahead of the play and next to the referee.
This led to confusion for Doorey, who retreated to give Wilson an advantage.
NRL head office ultimately supported Raymond's decision, with the incident being described as one of the most bizarre penalties ever seen on a footy field.
The NRL's approval of the penalty suggests that they are in agreement that Curran's actions were unacceptable and went against the fair play principles of the game.
The unique nature of Curran's penalty has sparked discussion among fans and experts about the boundaries of player behavior on the field.
While tactics like screaming for the ball are not uncommon, there are certain limits that players should not cross in order to maintain the integrity of the game.
The incident serves as a reminder that players must adhere to the rules and spirit of fair play, even in high-pressure situations.
Overall, the verdict by the NRL on the bizarre Bulldogs penalty highlights the importance of upholding the values of sportsmanship and fair competition in rugby league.
The incident has drawn attention to the rules surrounding player conduct on the field and sparked debate among fans and commentators.