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Parker: Expect more coaches blowing up at refs
Charles Goodsir • July 21st, 2025 1:12 pm
SEN’s Corey Parker believes there will be a number of NRL coaches openly criticising controversial refereeing decisions in the lead up to finals.
At the beginning of the season, the NRL banned coaches from condemning decisions made by officials in their post-match press conferences. Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler has already been threatened with a fine for comments made earlier in the season.
Recently, St George Illawarra Dragons coach Shane Flanagan blew up in his press conference following his side’s 20-18 loss to the Bulldogs.
The Dragons were on the wrong end of a controversial decision which gifted the Bulldogs a penalty in which they scored the match-winning try on the following set.
“The (refs) are trying so hard but there were some decisions tonight that cost us two competition points,” Flanagan said in his post-match press conference.
“It could cost us an opportunity to play semi-finals,” he added.
As we draw closer to September and as teams battle for the final few top eight positions, Parker has predicted that more coaches will speak their minds on contentious adjudications.
“In the next couple of weeks, referees will come under enormous amounts of scrutiny,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.
“We are talking about semi-final berths on the line and also coaches potentially getting sacked.
“Shane Flanagan was visibly showing his frustration after the game.”
The loss leaves the Dragons in 11th position on the ladder and are now three wins outside the top eight.
