The NRL are currently weighing up whether to issue the Melbourne Storm with a breach notice over a stoppage in play during Saturday's win over Parramatta, perย The Daily Telegraph.ย
A Storm trainer called for play to be halted so he could treat Suliasi Vunivalu for cramps.
The timing of the stoppage and play has caught the eye of many fans and experts and has raised some questions about the incident.
The issue has arisen due to the fact that Parramatta were in possession but trailing when Vunivalu went down behind the ball and it stopped the Eelsโ momentum.
However, NRL head of football Graham Annesley defended on field referee Ashley Kleinโs decision to take the advice of the trainer.
โIt canโt rest with the referees because you can bet your life that the moment they allow play to play on a player will have a serious injury and then we will have a major problem,โ Annesley said.
Annesley conceded it was an easy situation to manipulate but stressed the responsibility was on the clubs and the trainers โto exercise their responsibilitiesโ.
โIt is (easy to manipulate) and that is why there has to be the prospect for breaches,โ Annesley continued.
โReferees just canโt ignore a request from a trainer.
โWe have seen referees in the past be criticised heavily for allowing play to continue while players are injured.
โBut they are not in a position to judge that.
โThey have to take the advice of the trainers and the trainers have to exercise their responsibilities.โ
The exact punishment if the Storm are found guilty is unsure, but a fine is a possibility.
Annesley spoke further on the incident.
โThe rules are pretty clear about when trainers should signal to the referee to stop the game and thatโs when a doctor is required on the field.
โWe need to look at it.
โUltimately, they are potential breaches of the rules so they have to go through our internal process to determine if a club has a case to answer or not.
โPenalties for breaches, and again I stress there hasnโt been a determination yet, but speaking generally penalties for breaches are determined on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the circumstances.โ
