Andrew Voss demands the suspension of Clint Gutherson in an effort to stop the unsavory NRL trend.
The veteran commentator is calling on the NRL to crack down on the farcical scenes.
Clint Gutherson’s theatrical flop against the Wests Tigers has already seen the Parramatta captain condemned around the NRL world. And now veteran commentator Andrew Voss has called on officials to crack down on an ugly trend that has crept into the game where players take dives or feign injuries as a way of trying to win a penalty by duping referees.
Gutherson was guilty of one of the most farcical flops of the season during his side’s 60-26 drubbing of the Wests Tigers in Friday night’s ‘Spoon Bowl’. Interim Eels coach Trent Barrett revealed after the game that his skipper played with three broken ribs – which he suffered three weeks ago – and a torn quad. But Gutherson’s toughness and bravery was largely overshadowed by a shocking moment of play-acting that’s landed him in the crosshairs of angry league fans.
Gutherson immediately turned to referee Peter Gough looking for a penalty but the whistleblower was wise to what the Parramatta No.1 was trying to do and didn’t take the bait. Gutherson’s actions were so blatant that he could have been penalised himself for tackling the Tigers player without the ball. The incident went largely unnoticed at the time and wasn’t picked up on during the broadcast but plenty of fans called the veteran No.1 out on social media for the ‘shameless’ attempt to try and win a penalty.
Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson copped backlash after theatrically trying to win a penalty against the Wests Tigers. Pic: Getty
Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson copped backlash after theatrically trying to win a penalty against the Wests Tigers. Pic: Getty
And veteran league caller Voss has added to the pile-on against Gutherson after suggesting he should have been charged and slapped with a two-game ban for the ugly incident. Voss said he didn’t think many fans would take issue with the NRL cracking down on players deliberately trying to con referees into awarding penalties.
Such a move would mirror what happens in football, where players can be yellow carded or handed retrospective punishments for diving or play-acting, even if the offence wasn’t picked up at the time. Many league fans feel like the NRL is already becoming more like football with players increasingly lying down in tackles to try and milk penalties or initiating contact in defence looking for obstruction calls to go their way.
NRL fans want crackdown on players trying to milk penalties
And Voss’ call for Gutherson to be banned over the incident against the Tigers drew plenty of support from league fans, many of whom say the increase in play-acting is ruining the game. Fans agreed that players are milking penalties with alarming regularity, with debate about sufficient sanctions ranging from sin bins, to fines and even suspensions in some instances.
“Totally agree, taking a dive, lying down to get an undeserved penalty is ruining the game,” one fan wrote in response to Voss’ question. Another said: “It’s becoming a blite (sic) on the game and needs to be stamped out now.” And a third added: “They need to get diving out of the sport somehow. Whether it be diving like this or laying down hurt for a penalty…its a shocking look for the game and its being coached into players games now.”
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Andrew Johns calls out glaring issue as Bulldogs face finals flop: Good, bad, ugly of NRL Round 27
Canterbury are one of a number of clubs with issues to solve heading into the NRL finals.
Adam Lucius
adam lucius
Contributor
Mon, 9 Sept 2024, 1:16 am GMT+1·5-min read
😃 The good: Newcastle make mockery of Adam O’Brien critics
😔 The bad: Cronulla draw short straw for first week of NRL finals
😡 The ugly: Bulldogs running out of steam as Andrew Johns highlights problem
Adam O’Brien does it again as Knights make NRL finals
The minute Daniel Atkinson’s field goal sailed between the posts to seal the Sharks’ one-point victory over Newcastle in Round 24, the obituaries were being prepared for Adam O’Brien and his Knights. Sliding back to 11th spot on a congested table, and with only three games left to play, Newcastle’s chances of playing finals football sat somewhere off Nobbys at that stage.
It then emerged the coach’s future at the club was again looking shaky. O’Brien can almost set his watch by these stories. It was the same deal last year when the Knights mentor was said to be toast before his team rallied to win nine games straight and finish fifth, bowing out in the second week of the finals.
Newcastle Knights players.
The Newcastle Knights have surged into the NRL finals once again. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
That triggered a contract extension for O’Brien until the end of 2027, but we learned after the Cronulla game that finishing 13th or lower this year could put the final two years of the deal under threat. O’Brien just put his head down and got on with the business of winning, engineering three consecutive victories to help the Knights snatch the eighth and final play-off spot on the last day of the regular season.
They meet the Cowboys in the first elimination final on Saturday night. “We’ve been dead and buried and written off about five times this year,” O’Brien pointed out after the Knights’ win over the Dolphins on Sunday sealed his fourth finals series as head coach. “Not many people have had many wraps on us all year and they didn’t last year either.
“We get used to it and just get on with it. The people who fill this stadium and get around town gives us the wraps and the pats on the back and the encouragement and support that we need. We want to do them proud in north Queensland next week.” You can bet they’ll do just that.
Cronulla dudded in finals draw for Melbourne Storm clash
Cronulla has every right to blow up about the week one finals schedule. As the No.4 rated team, the Sharks should have been handed the Sunday 4pm time-slot for next weekend’s qualifying final against Melbourne.
Having played Manly on the last day of the regular season, that would have given Craig Fitzgibbon’s men an extra day to prepare – and travel – to Melbourne for the toughest road trip in the game. The Storm already enjoy a three-day advantage, having finished up their round 27 commitments last Thursday in Brisbane.
Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron McInnes ahead of the Storm-Sharks finals clash.
The Melbourne Storm will host the Cronulla Sharks in week one of the NRL finals. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Playing the Penrith v Roosters qualifying final on Friday night makes sense and was the only real option given turnaround times. But why do North Queensland (fifth), Canterbury (sixth) and Manly (seventh) all enjoy a greater breather than a team ranked higher than them in the Sharks, especially when none have to travel?
It gives the play-offs a slightly skewed look, with the qualifying finals the first two games of the weekend followed by the two elimination finals. “Obviously, as far as preparation goes leading into the semis, they (Melbourne) have had a pretty ideal one,” Fitzgibbon said. “We’ll be massive underdogs, short turnaround (playing against a side with a) long turnaround.”
It’s just another reason the NRL should seriously look at following the AFL’s lead and have a week off before the finals.
Andrew Johns highlights obvious issue plaguing Bulldogs
The drums and car horns have fallen silent on the streets of Belmore as once buoyant Canterbury fans deal with their side’s late-season fade out. Cruising on the back of five straight wins from rounds 21-25, the Bulldogs have since suffered crippling losses to Manly and North Queensland and will limp rather than sprint into their first finals series in eight years.
Expectation can be a heavy burden and the Dogs look shaky. It will take some turnaround from here but Immortal Andrew Johns has had a look under the bonnet and thinks he has pinpointed the problem – utter fatigue.
“Their wins have been based on defence, grit (and), toughness. It can wear you down and sap you when you’re constantly winning like that,” Joey told the Sunday Footy Show. “It’s so hard physically and mentally. If you’re doing that for a couple of months – just willing yourself to win through toughness and grit and defence – it can wear you out.”
Andrew Johns alongside Bulldogs players.
Andrew Johns has called out the major issue plaguing the Bulldogs late in the NRL season. Image: AAP/Getty
Teams talk about having to go to another level when the finals begin. The Dogs must find that next level on Sunday afternoon if they are to keep their season alive against a Manly side with problems of its own.
Canterbury has already had one big win, with the game to be played at Accor Stadium instead of 4 Pines Park thanks to the Sharks’ last round victory over the Sea Eagles. Downtown Belmore will be rocking once again if the Dogs can rediscover the mojo that had just two weeks ago.
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Nick Kyrgios in awkward twist as Jannik Sinner celebrates US Open triumph with girlfriend
The Aussie was in commentary as Sinner and Anna Kalisnkaya soaked up his grand slam victory.
Sam Goodwin
sam goodwin
Sports Editor
Sun, 8 Sept 2024, 10:39 pm GMT+1·5-min read
Fresh from causing a social media storm with a two-word comment about Jannik Sinner’s girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya, Nick Kyrgios had to watch on as they celebrated with a very public display of affection after the US Open final. World No.1 Sinner beat Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-4 7-5 for the second grand slam title of his career – and first at the US Open.
The 23-year-old Italian backed up his triumph from the Australian Open in January and continued America’s 21-year wait for a male major winner. It makes Sinner the first male player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two grand slam trophies in the same season – something Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer never achieved.
Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner and Anna Kalinskaya.
Nick Kyrgios watched on as Jannik Sinner celebrated his US Open triumph with girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya. Image: Getty/ESPN
Kyrgios was once again in commentary for ESPN and had to watch on awkwardly as Sinner and Kalinkskaya celebrated with a kiss in the stands after the final point. Kyrgios had copped backlash on Saturday when he made what many interpreted as a misogynistic comment about Kalinskaya on social media.
Jannik Sinner and Anna Kalinskaya, pictured here sharing a kiss after the US Open final.
Jannik Sinner and Anna Kalinskaya after the US Open fnal. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Australian dated Kalinskaya for a brief period in 2020, and was reminded of the fact when someone posted an old photo of the pair. Kyrgios simply replied ‘second serve’, which the majority thought was a dig at the fact she’s now dating Sinner.
Leading tennis reporters Ben Rothenberg and Jon Wertheim both criticised Kyrgios for the comment and questioned whether ESPN should sanction him. The journalists both made mention of Kyrgios’ infamous sledge for Stan Wawrinka when he told the Swiss player during a match that “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend”.
Jannik Sinner, pictured here with the US Open trophy.
Jannik Sinner celebrates with the US Open trophy. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Rothenberg wrote: “Honestly a bit surprised to see ESPN didn’t yank Nick Kyrgios off air mid-US Open final, seeing his most recent disparaging tweet about a WTA player circulating. Given his history of demeaning women, women’s tennis, and WTA players, it was already a dubious choice to have him.”
Wertheim commented: “Nick Kyrgios once made a misogynistic, wildly inappropriate comment about a WTA player, drew the anger of her ATP player boyfriend, his coach, and much of the locker room…but didn’t face real consequence, dismissed, as it was, as youthful indiscretion. That was 2015. He’s 29 now.”
Honestly a bit surprised to see ESPN didn’t yank Nick Kyrgios off air mid-#USOpen final, seeing his most recent disparaging tweet about a WTA player circulating.
Given his history of demeaning women, women’s tennis, and WTA players, it was already a dubious choice to have him.
