Click photo to enlarge
Dragon's coach Nathan Brown looks on as his team struggles
against the Warriors in an NRL match from last season.
Photo by NZPA.
St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown has warned of an
NRL "bloodbath" unless the game's governing body stops turning
a blind eye to Melbourne's use of illegal tactics.
Brown unleashed the extraordinary and pre-meditated outburst
after claiming to be insulted by Billy Slater's defence at
the NRL judiciary last night.
The Storm fullback said he was provoked into instigating an
all-in brawl by a series of headbutts from Dragons winger
Jason Nightingale.
Slater successfully argued for a downgrade on his contrary
conduct charge after he was pinged by the match review
committee for unleashing a flurry of punches on Nightingale.
"As far as I'm concerned the only thing Jason did wrong is he
didn't headbutt him hard enough," Brown said.
"That's what he should have done.
"Then Jeff Lima kicks Jason Ryles in the scrum, and then
Ryles gets sent off for kicking back.
"Jason Ryles should have unpacked out of the scrum and put
one on his chin and then when he went down give him more
because you've got to fight the fire with the fire.
"Whingeing about it ... it does shit, it doesn't do
anything."
An incensed Brown claimed the Storm were getting away with
murder at the ruck, and called for officials to stamp it out
of the game or for other teams to be given the same leniency.
And he warned of dire ramifications should officials continue
to ignore concerns from rival NRL sides, with Sydney Roosters
coach Brad Fittler and Cronulla and Australian Test coach
Ricky Stuart this week both voicing their disapproval of the
Storm tactics.
Brown even hinted at a new type of tackle being used to slow
down the play the ball, with the `Shinboner' - where an
defender uses his shinbone to rub up and down the attacker's
Achilles heel, being used on several of his players.
This just adds to the list which already includes, the
grapple, the prowler, the crusher and the chicken wing.
"Melbourne have been very, very good at it (and have been)
for a long time," Brown said.
"We're not good enough at it -- they're better at ... half of
it they invented, they'll tell you they didn't.
"It doesn't bother me they do it, but what bothers me is the
officials in our game keep letting the system down.
"We went there the other night to ruffle their feathers.
"They keep letting it happen and my advice to other sides is
the only chance you've got of beating Melbourne is to join
in, you join in and get in and rip in a make the game a
bloodbath.
"That's the only way you can win unless the officials want to
change their approach to the game."
Brown made no secret of the fact his side wanted to muscle up
against the Storm, but admitted that game plan was thrown out
the window when enforcer Ryles was sent off for kicking Lima,
a decision referees boss Robert Finch panned the next day.
The Dragons mentor, who last week signed a three-year deal to
coach Huddersfield in the English Super League next season,
said he hoped the red and whites were handed another
assignment against the Storm this season.
That will only happen if the two should meet in the finals,
but it promises to be a spicy one should it eventuate.
"I hope we get another crack at the Storm because you can
tell the officials if they're going to keep reffing the way
they ref the ruck, we're coming harder next time because
that's the way, you've got to fight it," he said.
"My tip for every side is don't worry about whingeing about
what's happening, just join in."
