Justin Holbrook didn’t stage a repeat of his bristling tirade at the officials after Gold Coast‘s opening-round defeat, but the Titans coach again questioned the whistleblowers following his side’s loss to Manly on Saturday night.
When Holbrook sat down for his press conference with captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, he was asked about a disallowed Titans try in the final minute of the game, won by the Sea Eagles 26-18 at Brookvale Oval.
And while Holbrook said he didn’t have an issue with the 80th-minute no-try call, he laughed and shook his head as he raised doubt over the first four-pointer of the game, awarded to Manly back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu in the 12th minute.
The rising second-rower steamed through in pursuit of a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber and dived on the ball, but it certainly wasn’t a clean putdown.
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“I thought he lost it, grounded it with his torso… he definitely lost it,” Holbrook said.
“Well I thought he did.
“It looked like a certain try, by the way. I’m not saying it was a miracle that it was awarded. It looked like a certain try.
“But when you watch it back, it comes out of his arms and then he grounds it.
“I thought we dodged a bullet and it was a little wake-up call, but it wasn’t, and we never recovered.”
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The Titans’ 32-28 defeat to the Eels in round one had led to Holbrook making the astonishing suggestion that struggling sides weren’t afforded the fortune of stronger teams.
“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),” Holbrook said.
“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 a 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.”
Manly is sitting fifth on the ladder with four wins and two losses, while Gold Coast is 10th with two wins and four defeats.
Manly and Cronulla will open round seven in a clash at Shark Park on Thursday night, while Gold Coast is set to meet North Queensland in Townsville next Saturday evening.
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