Pointless exercise: Titans coach testy after Storm loss
Melissa Woods |
Frustrated Gold Coast coach Josh Hannay said complaining to the NRL about unfair treatment from referees towards his team was a “pointless exercise” after the Titans suffered a last-ditch loss to Melbourne.
The Storm survived a mighty scare to hang on for a vital 22-18 win to stay in touch with the finals-bound top eight.
With a 7-9 win-loss record heading into the Sunday night clash at AAMI Park, the Storm needed to bank two crucial points with looming clashes against top-four sides. They are now four points outside the eight in 10th spot.
But the Titans, who hadn’t won in Melbourne since 2014 and sit second-last on the ladder, made Melbourne work for it, with the Storm only breaking an 18-18 deadlock with a Nick Meaney try in the 78th minute.
Before that, Gold Coast’s Keano Kini scored off a scrum play in the 61st minute and Preston Campbell slotted the conversion to draw level, but neither side could find a field goal as the clock wound down.
A bold Melbourne attacking raid started by fullback Sua Faalogo ended with Meaney grounding the ball over the back of his head for the match-winner despite the Titans defending in numbers.
Hannay was “super proud” and felt his players deserved more for their efforts.
Among his complaints, the coach said Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s pass to set up an early Preston Campbell try shouldn’t have been ruled forward, and that a try by rival centre Jack Howarth was scored with a double movement.
“I expected it to go the way it went just because of who they are and who we are,” Hannay said of the Howarth try, which put the Storm up 12-6 at halftime.
“The grit, the determination, the want – sometimes you just don’t get the bounce or the rub of the green, you know? And sometimes that’s all you need when you’re putting in that much effort.
“We had none of it tonight, which is often the case for some reason with this club.”
Asked if he could do more to “iron” out his frustrations with officials, Hannay was blunt.
“The most pointless exercise in our game is talking to the officials during the week,” he said.
“It’s pointless – it just makes you more frustrated. So what you hope is that when you take the field every week that you’re going to get a fair crack.”
Hannay said his frustrations weren’t limited to this match’s refereeing under debutant Tyson Brough, but over an “accumulation” of decisions this season.
The Storm were up 12-6 at halftime but, showing his foresight, Storm coach Craig Bellamy wasn’t happy with their opening 40 minutes with rested playmaker and Queensland captain Cameron Munster looking uncomfortable in the box alongside his coach.
Melbourne had given up eight double-figure leads since the start of last season and appeared to be adding another to that tally when their 18-6 buffer evaporated.
Campbell scored a 90-metre try after intercepting a Harry Grant pass, then Kini’s effort drew the visitors level at 18-18 to set up a thrilling finish.
With both teams guilty of more than 30 errors combined, each struggled to ice the result before Meaney came up with the match-winner.
“It was wild and woolly tonight,” said Bellamy.
“We’ve got a few injuries and (it’s) the week after Origin, which causes a bit of disruption. So to hang on there, when they were really coming after us, and get the win was a good effort in the end.”
AAP