Fellow Agahstees,
Robbed blind.
Pure and simple.
The Bamfords had a total shocker.
It's been a while since three penalty goals have been kicked in a rugby league match; the players had the umps worked out from the off with no shortage of diving and waving the arms around complaining about the penalty count.
In the denoument, it ceased being a game and descended into farce.
Ironic that both the Bamfords went by the first name Gavin.
Really? Gavin?
With the scores all locked up at 14-14 with four minutes left on the clock, the Bamford known as Gavin "Fooking" Badger penalised Pat Richards on an imaginary trumped up charge of tackling the Bronco's playmaker without the ball, that would never stand up in a court of law.
In was right in front of the posts, so Brisbane just dropped it over the black dot to win the match.
No trubs, thanks very much, Gav.
Post match, Coach Potter was reportedly accosted by The Press hounding him about what he thought about it.
It was clear Harry was incandescent with rage, but he kept his implaccable calm exterior and said "I've got no idea. Didn't see it. And I haven't had a chance to have a chat to Pat about it just yet, and he was the bloke there".
No doubt, under interrogation by the coach, Pat would say "it wasn't me, guvna, i never done it" and he be believed, given that the video tape showed that while he did attempt to tackle the ball carrier, who was barelling headlong towards him at a rate of knots mind you, Richards was a bit late in his timing, and made slight contact about a millisecond after the ball had left the ball-carrier's hands.
But, in any case the tackle was completely ineffective and would have made absolutely no difference at all to the course of play.
Little wonder the back pages of the next morning's fishwraps screamed "TIGERS FUMING OVER MATCH WINNING PENALTY".
Whatever happened to the advantage rule? Where the refs call is "advantage! play on!".
It seems to be dying out in favour of a highly technical reading of the rule book.
The Umpire's whistle is nobody's friend, least of all the miserable spectators who've gone to the time and trouble to go have a look at it.
The irony is that Pat Richards was Man of the Match for mine; strong defence and a fine running game, with a couple of spectular breaks down the wing that created some really good looking broken play - no finer sight in world sport than running Rugby League - and the bloke can kick the ball, he's like Dead Eye Dick used to be when it comes to kicking goals, and as the radio commentator said as Pat took a goal line drop out "Oh! Richards has really put his boot into that! Look at that for a kick! He's kicked it all the way to Camden!".
The bloke is the stand out bargain buy of the year for any club.
And all he wants out of the game after 14 seasons in the caper - eight of those most recently in England playing for Wigan when they won everything - is just to retire with a tidy pension.
After his exploits in The Miracle Year '05 he's already in the Balmain pantheon, and he aint greedy, just setting himself up for a comfortable retirement.
My Spy at The Ground noted that the crowd was about double the size they'd usually get at Campbelltown Sports Ground.
He offered no reason; surely they wouldn't all have come out of the Western Suburbs Magpies woodwork just for the 15th anniversary of the first match played at the ground after the merger between Balmain and Wests to create the joint venture club?
Nobody celebrates that.
It should be a day of mourning.
They must have been giving away free hot pies.
That'd bring the crowds in.
Only to end up bitterly disappointed at full time, and left with a bad taste in the mouth due soley to incompetant judges.
Could go on about it, but won't.
At the end of the section, neither side played very well, which is reflected in the scorebox, and as usual, when there's no Robbie Farah there's no Cuban Cigar, with the Best Leb in the Game out of town on other business, i.e. duties for NSW in the opening State-of-Origin game v QLD mid-week.
Robbie would be first picked at hooker and chief wizard at the play-the-ball by any team on the planet, so if NSW can have him, they'll take him, and they don't even have to ask for Balmain's permission.
The upcoming bye didn't fall the right way, too bad.
The Stats Guru was pained to point out that in the seven games played against Brisbane in those fifteen years at Campbelltown, the Bronco's have never lost, with six wins and a draw there.
It's a spooky hoo-doo ground.
All the more reason to abandon the gawdforsaken place forever, put the wrecking ball through the joint, plough up the field and plant it to beans.
Balmain beans.
Popped my head around the door of the Front Bar at The Local on Monday morning, and The Philosopher quickly fixed me with his beady eye - spotted - so had no choice but to go in.
He didn't look his usual self.
The barmaid said "he's a bit more agitated than normal, and he can't decide what he wants to drink - not a good sign".
So, cocked my head and turned towards The Philosopher and said "what's up, Prof?"
He replied: "Joisus Christ, Craves! Petty officialdom gives me the complete and utter shits".
WESTS TIGERS 14. Tries: Brooks, Thompson. Goals: Richards (3).
BRISBANE BRONCOS 16. Tries: Oates (2). Goals: Hunt (4).
At Campbelltown Sports Ground.
Crowd: 16,511.
SYDNEY: Mid-season bye.
