Titans coach Justin Holbrook says he’s frustrated his side was on the wrong end of a lopsided penalty count during Gold Coasts’s 32-28 loss to the Eels today.
After conceding the opening two tries of the game, the Titans stormed back in a match that eventually became a sea sawing affair before the Eels took control late in the match, courtesy of three successful penalty goals.
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The Eels, the home side today at CommBank Stadium, won the penalty count 7-1, while also being successful with all three of its captain’s challenges.
Holbrook said today’s match was an example of his side consistently being on the wrong end of “50-50” refereeing decisions.
“Definitely [it was a bitter pill to swallow],” Holbrook told reporters after the match.
“I’m not here to take anything away from Parramatta, good luck to them, but it’s about us as a club not being one of the big clubs and not getting anything [from the referees].
“If they’re 50-50 [decisions], make them 50-50. Give us a couple, give them a couple and we’re happy.
“I’m not asking for 7-1 [penalty count] and 3-0 in the captain’s challenge.
“You’re better off getting me to talk about the first half and then the officials to do the second half, rather than asking me 10 minutes after the game.
“We had a great opportunity taken away from us to win a game of footy. I don’t know if we were good enough or not, I’m not here to take anything away from Parramatta.
“Defensively we struggled in the first half, but we fought our way back.”
During the second half, the Titans were unsuccessful with their captain’s challenge after they had hoped to overturn a ruling of knock-on against Patrick Herbert, who lost control of possession in the middle of a tackle.
Minutes later, Eels forward Ray Stone was ruled by on-field referee Grant Atkins to have lost possession of the ball during the play-the-ball.
That decision was reviewed via the captain’s challenge, with the bunker ruling that Sam Lisone’s foot caused Stone to lose the ball, which made for a successful challenge.
“We’re on their line with a captain’s challenge, and it’s ‘oh did the leg touch the ball or did it not,'” Holbrook added. “Then 20 minutes later we’re in the ruck and it’s ‘did the leg touch the ball’.
“Someone tell me the difference because it has a big bearing on the game.
“Make it 50-50 or get rid of the captain’s challenge because it’s not favouring us and it never has.
“That first half, it was exciting and there was a lot of tries.
“Then in the second half, honestly, If I wasn’t coaching I would’ve fallen asleep.
“The game never flowed in the second half, it was so disappointing to watch my team continually defend the line and never get a chance to win the game.
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“That’s the way I feel and I’m being honest.”
Holbrook said it was important for officials to not get carried away by the home fans.
“While both sides weren’t happy with how we defended in the first half, if that’s what we want as a rugby league – a showcase of good tries and excitement for fans that are here, just don’t forget there are lots of fans that aren’t here and are going for the other team,” the Titans coach said.
“As a game, we need to remember that.
“We tend to get excited about how we hear people roar at a stadium and how that affects decisions. We should let it play normally.”
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