Referees co-coach Stuart Raper answers your most frequently asked questions from Round 17.
What happened with referee Gavin Badger in the Broncos v Sharks game when he looked to award Cronulla playmaker Wade Graham a try? Did they get the right decision? Is he allowed to go upstairs if he has already given the try?
Gavin Badger followed protocol and checked with all officials if it was all clear to give the try. After getting the approval from the other officials he pointed to the spot, but before he blew the whistle he decided to send it to the video referee to check the decision due to concerns about the tackle from Wade Graham on Josh Hoffman.
If Badger had commenced blowing the whistle and, in mid-stream, decided to check it, this would have been okay. Our priority is to get the decision right, which we did. Graham collected Broncos fullback Hoffman high and the video referee correctly denied the try and gave the Broncos a penalty. While it might have looked slightly unorthodox, we got the decision correct, which is the important thing.
See the Wade Graham high shot decision
What did you think of the decision to deny Penrith's David Simmons a try in the 75th minute?
We agreed with the decision. Panthers’ winger Etu Uaisele comes in and pushes the South Sydney player Justin Hunt while he is attempting to hold the attacking player over the tryline.
This action is deemed interfering with a defender whilst trying to make a tackle. We use the word driver to communicate this to each other. You are allowed to lend weight to your own player but must not interfere or push a defender whilst he is trying to make a tackle. Uaisele does this and that is why the try was denied.
