Horwill fumes after ‘gouge’ call

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IRATE Reds skipper James Horwill has fumed that the gouging send-off for Ed O'Donoghue was a farce and that Super Rugby is being ruined by a slow-down bug.

Horwill knew he was risking a $5000 fine or more with Saturday night's stinging post-match criticism but shot from the hip anyway at the pivotal call in the 30-27 loss.

Replacement lock O'Donoghue clearly gave Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham, a former Wests clubmate, a heavy facial as they grappled on the ground.

It was stupid but it will be argued at his judicial hearing that it did not cross the line to raking or gouging of the eyes.

Reds lock Ed O'Donoghue was red-carded after this incident with Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham. Source: FoxSports

Horwill's angst was with the first movement of a Reds attacking lineout already starting in the 79th minute before the Television Match Official intervened and ultimately forced a red card decision from referee Steve Walsh.

He shifted play 50m downfield to a deciding Rebels penalty goal.

"I've played 150 professional games of rugby and I've never ever ever seen that happen before," Horwill said.

"This spectacle of Super Rugby is being ruined. There's too much going back and slowing of the game. It's getting beyond a joke.

"Super Rugby has always been about expansive rugby but it's going out of the game. The Rebels defended well but there were no repercussions, no yellow cards, for slowing tactics when we were in the attacking zone."

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Higginbotham looked to have nudged a head into O'Donoghue's head. It appeared to be the trigger but Horwill had no on-field joy trying to get Walsh to go back to that incident with the TMO.

"There was a pretty clear clash of heads, intentional or not," Horwill said.

"From my experience of eye gouging, there's a mark. There was no mark on Higgers.

"Higgers thought he was in trouble (for an infringement). He was surprised (at the gouging call). Come on.

"At every breakdown, there are hands, arms, elbows, knees. That's the reality of a physical game. You can't pick one moment out and not go back for every single one in every game."

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The emotion of a sixth-straight loss all fed into Horwill's despair and the feeling that referee Walsh failed to issue yellow cards on the Rebels were slowing the Reds attack close to the tryline.

Reds coach Richard Graham thought it "ridiculous" that play should be put on rewind when the lineout had already started.

Rebels coach Tony McGahan celebrated a hugely satisfying win as a "very important night for the club and the direction of this team."

He thought Walsh was justified with his red card call.

"Thankfully the fourth official came over the top, reviewed it and made a decision," McGahan said.

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Rebels flanker Scott Fuglistaller added: "Anything around the head you can't touch. It's sacrosanct."

Rebels matchwinner Luke Burgess was helped off with a twisted knee in the second half but McGahan said he did not expect it to be major damage.

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Dockers do it for milestone man, Pav

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AFTER carrying them for a fair chunk of his 300 games, Matthew Pavlich's teammates last night gave their inspirational skipper the best possible thank you - the chance to win the only medal he really wants.

Fremantle's top-four and premiership hopes remain alive after the Dockers survived yet another riveting contest against great rival Geelong at Patersons Stadium.

The 32-point victory, 13.18 (96) to 9.10 (64), sends the Dockers to their bye at 5-4 and with the toughest part of their draw in the rear view mirror.

Laced with the usual heady mix of brilliance and controversy these combatants so often serve up, a win against Geelong is always well-earned and this was no exception as the Cats suffered just the second loss of their season.

Hayden Ballantyne celebrates a goal with Stephen Hill (left) and Nat Fyfe. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

Fremantle's midfield was supreme and Pavlich and Hayden Ballantyne starred in attack with three goals each.

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood had 35 touches and nine clearances, but lacked support as Fremantle's all-star midfield triumvirate of David Mundy, Nat Fyfe and Michael Barlow held sway in the clinches.

The Dockers smashed the Cats in the clearance (45-29) and contested ball (162-120) counts, with ruckman Aaron Sandilands dominant and Stephen Hill slicing and dicing the visitors on the spread.

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The match-up between Geelong gun Steve Johnson and Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley was worth the price of admission in itself, and a series of incidents involving the pair remain huge talking points.

Held to just six disposals in the first half, an increasingly frustrated Johnson reacted.

His headbutt on Crowley in the second term will attract the attention of the Match Review Panel, while a comical incident in the interchange area in the third term was another major controversy.

Matthew Pavlich is carried off the field by Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

The emergency umpire appeared to pay a free kick against Crowley for contact with Selwood around Geelong's interchange area, despite the Docker being dragged through the Cats' interchange gate by the guernsey by a cheeky Johnson.

Pavlich kicked all three of his goals in the first half to set the tone, leading the way in a frenzied opening as the Dockers ran the Cats off their feet in a five-goals-to-none stanza.

Dominant at the stoppages, Fremantle gained the early ascendancy to get the jump on the shell-shocked visitors.

The milestone man kicked the game's opening goal within a minute in a dream start, nailing a drop punt from an acute angle deep in the pocket.

Pavlich was involved in the next two goals as well as the Dockers had three majors within six minutes.

Joel Selwood attempts to gather under pressure from Nathan Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

He had his second entering time-on of the opening term, bringing up his 600th career major and becoming just the seventh player in VFL/AFL history to achieve the 300-game/600-goal double.

The Cats hit back early in the second quarter with goals to spearhead Tom Hawkins, who finished with three, and Travis Varcoe as Fremantle missed a string of chances in front of goal at the other end.

Carrying a fracture in his cheekbone and playing without a helmet, Ballantyne whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his running goal mid-way through the quarter.

Pavlich added his third from a set shot to continue his big night but the home team's 30-point lead at half-time could have been far greater, with Freo spraying 2.8 in the second term.

The teams added three goals apiece in the third stanza, with the electric Ballantyne getting his second and then third goals as the Dockers kept Geelong at bay.

Jed Bews was solid in his AFL debut for Geelong. Source: Getty Images

Defender Harry Taylor was sent forward as the Cats looked for answers but a relentless Fremantle remained in control.

The visitors rallied against the odds in the last quarter, remaining an outside chance of stealing the match when Steven Motlop kicked his first at the 19-minute mark to close the gap to 19 points.

If there were nerves in the crowd of 38,565 they were quickly settled by youngster Tom Sheridan, whose set shot goal two minutes later restored a comfortable buffer on a night Fremantle paid a fitting tribute to its greatest servant.

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Cooper hurt as Reds ‘robbed’

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QUADE Cooper is certain to miss the Wallabies' three-Test series against France next month after his collarbone injury squeezed further torture into the failed season of the Queensland Reds.

The Reds agony compounded into a sixth-straight loss in a late 30-27 tumble to the Melbourne Rebels when reserve lock Ed O'Donoghue was sent off for allegedly raking the eyes of Scott Higginbotham at Suncorp Stadium.

MATCH CENTRE: Live scores, stats, video highlights

Reds skipper James Horwill was a picture of anguish on full-time and cursed the refereeing decision of Steve Walsh to banish O'Donoghue which handed Rebels goalkicker Jason Woodward a winning shot at penalty goal from in front with a minute to play.

"We were gutsy but in the end we were again robbed by a stupid refereeing decision," Horwill said with emotion still high in an on-field interview with Fox Sports.

The Reds were setting up for a lineout 25m out from the Rebels tryline inside the final two minutes when Walsh's tough judge alerted him to the O'Donoghue-Higginbotham tussle on the turf.

"Are you saying hands in his eyes?" Walsh asked. When the answer was "yes" he whistled O'Donoghue and marched the Reds 50m downfield to their doom.

Horwill pleaded for Walsh to examine an alleged headbutt as the trigger to the O'Donoghue but got no reward as the Rebels celebrated their first ever win over a Reds team now on their worst losing streak since 2008.

Ed O'Donoughe was red carded for 'hands in the eyes' of Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham. Source: FoxSports

Cooper had played every minute of the Reds' 11 games this season until disaster struck just eight minutes into last night's clash.

Australia's first-choice flyhalf to end 2013 was trying to ignite the Reds with a hop-stepping run down the left touchline when he was tackled. When he was jammed awkwardly into the turf in the tumble of bodies that followed his distress was obvious.

An AC joint injury to his left shoulder shapes as a costly month on the sidelines.

It would rule him out of the opening two Tests against France on June 7 and 14 and mostly likely mean he sits out the June 21 finale in Sydney as well.

The Cooper drama was the last thing needed by Test coach Ewen McKenzie, who was in the stands making final assessments for his 32-man Wallabies squad to be named on Thursday.

With Cooper now sidelined, ACT Brumbies No. 10 Matt Toomua would seem certain to step up in the playmaking role against the French.

Quade Cooper leaves the field after injuring his collarbone at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

It also potentially creates a starting position for Kurtley Beale at inside centre although McKenzie may even consider flipping those roles so effective was Toomua at inside centre on last year's Wallabies tour.

The first drama to the night erupted after just 40 seconds when Rebels skipper Higginbotham was sin-binned for a late, high contact when he jumped into Reds fullback Mike Harris after he'd unleashed a clearing kick.

The Reds ruthlessly crossed within two minutes. Two James Hanson rumbles in tight were as important as three sharp Cooper passes, one of which found Harris, who stepped over.

Higginbotham was warming up to return when the injured Cooper slowly walked off.

The Rebels' intensity in the tackle knocked back Reds runners frequently but the cohesion to their attack was harder to find. When they did they uncorked a 75m ripper that was equal parts Rebels sharpness and appalling Reds defence.

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Fullback Jason Woodward popped the final ball to tryscorer Tom Kingston but five or six defenders either missed tackles or had no back-up to shut down an off-load.

When the Reds were down 17-10 late in the first half they had their passive line speed in defence to curse again because Rebels halfback Luke Burgess skated 20m in a diagonal run to the tryline through Hanson, Genia, Anthony Faingaa, Harris and Dom Shipperley.

It was all heart that kept the Reds alive by pegging back parlous 17-10, 24-17 and 27-24 deficits to lock up the scores each time but the side's defensive structure has deserted them.

A sixth-straight defeat is the Reds' worst sequence since 2008 and leaves them stranded in the basement of the Australian conference.

Relive all the Reds v Rebels action in our match blog below.

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SuperCoach Studs and Duds

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WHO starred and who stunk it up in Round 9?

Check out the top scorers and those that burned their SuperCoaches this week.

ADELAIDE CROWS 76 defeat COLLINGWOOD 55

Crows Studs: Patrick Dangerfield said he expected a tag but it didn't matter as he burned off every opponent to finish with 152 points. Ruckman Sam Jacobs is one of the most reliable big men in the comp and finished with 125. Scott Thompson (123), Rory Sloane (112) and Richard Douglas (110) won the midfield battle.

Crows Duds: Popular rookie Matt Crouch copped the green vest and burnt many a coach with just 10 points. Matthew Wright was subbed out with 79 points to his name.

Magpies Studs: Captain Scott Pendlebury lead the way with 128 points. Boom rookie Tom Langdon (117) continued his fine form. Dane Beams (104) and Harry Lumumba (101) were the only other Magpies to crack the ton.

Magpies Duds: Jamie Elliott had been one of the highest scoring forwards this season but managed just 50 on Thursday night. Travis Cloke's 55 is actually half decent by his 2014 standards.

Patrick Dangerfield can't escape a Luke Ball tackle. Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Corp Australia

SYDNEY SWANS 114 defeat ESSENDON 64

Swans Studs: Josh Kennedy lead the way for the Swans with 151. Craig Bird popped up with a surprise 127. Lance Franklin (126) seems to be enjoying his partnership with Kurt Tippett while Kieran Jack (123) and Luke Parker (113) continue to produce.

Swans Duds: Sam Reid (39) and Adam Goodes (40) are certainly out in the cold in the Swans millionaire's forward line. Popular defender Jeremy Laidler was underwhelming with just 54. Brandon Jack was the sub and finished with a zero.

Bombers Studs: Brendon Goddard continues to be a class above for Essendon and lead the way with 127. Captain Jobe Watson wasn't far behind with 120. Patrick Ryder (111) and David Zaharakis (101) were the only other Bombers to crack the ton.

Bombers Duds: Kurt Aylett played the entire game but was still the lowest scorer with just 23 points. Out-of-form forward Jake Carlisle started as the sub and finished with 27. Jackson Merrett burnt his coaches with a shocking 29.

Josh Kennedy single-handedly dismantled Essendon. Source: Getty Images

MELBOURNE 91 defeat RICHMOND 74

Demons Studs: Jack Watts stepped up on the big stage and kicked three goals to net 127 points. Cameron Pedersen was the second highest scoring player with 123. Usual suspects Dom Tyson (122) and Nathan Jones (114) rewarded their owners with big games.

Demons Duds: After several weeks without the vest, Jay Kennedy-Harris was stuck in green for most of the match and could only muster 25 when introduced. Christen Salem got an entire game but could only earn 31 points.

Tigers Studs: Dustin Martin was everywhere for Richmond but to no avail and top scored with 118. Daniel Jackson tried his hardest and scored 115. Captain Trent Cotchin (112), Alex Rance (107) and Shane Edwards (100) also hit the century.

Tigers Duds: Shaun Hampson had a dirty day and was subbed out with 31 points. Nick Vlastuin was quiet and scored 58, while Jack Riewoldt (53) and Ben Griffiths (54) paid for their inaccuracy in front of goal.

Cameron Pedersen was vital in Melbourne's win over Richmond. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

NORTH MELBOURNE 125 defeat BRISBANE LIONS 38

Kangaroos Studs: Is there any stopping Boomer Harvey? The veteran inspired the Roos victory and scored a massive 179. Sam Gibson was Harvey's right-hand man for much of the night and earned 149. Nick Dal Santo (140) and Lindsay Thomas (126) were important as eight Kangaroos cracked the ton.

Kangaroos Duds: Ryan Bastinac was surprising made the sub on Saturday and finished with just 12 points. Defender Shaun Atley (63), Scott Thompson (77) and Scott McMahon (58) couldn't cash in on the big win.

Lions Studs: Jack Redden and Mitch Golby fought all day for the Lions and top scored with 104 each. Jed Adcock was next best on 87 on a dirty day for the club.

Lions Duds: The ball wasn't in the forward line very often and Jonathan Brown suffered. The champion finished with just 10 points. Gastro had claimed Joel Patfull and Tom Rockliff before the game and Dayne Zorko bravely played but was well below his best with 12 points.

Jonathan Brown couldn't get near the ball against North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

FREMANTLE 96 defeat GEELONG 64

Dockers Studs: Stephen Hill provided plenty of run and carry to net 130 points. Aaron Sandilands dominated the ruck contests and finished with 126. Midfielders David Mundy (114), Tendai Mzungu (114), Michael Barlow (112) and Nat Fyfe (102) were in everything.

Dockers Duds: Zac Dawson isn't in the team to get big possession numbers but still played a whole game for just 35 points. Matt de Boer (36) and Alex Silvangi (43) shared the sub's vest. Chris Mayne continues to struggle with just 45.

Cats Studs: Joel Selwood scored a match-high 140 from 35 touches. Mitch Duncan was the only other Cats to crack the ton. Cameron Guthrie (99), George Horlin-Smith (99) and James Kelly (91) fell just short.

Cats Duds: Steve Johnson copped a Ryan Crowley tag and was limited to just 53 points. Harry Taylor was tried up forward but had little impact and scored 44. Tom Hawkins kicked three goals but did little else for 57 points.

Joel Selwood battles with Matt de Boer for the ball in Perth. Source: Getty Images

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Carlisle saga takes green turn

An umpire was stretchered from the ground after a clash with Sydney player Nick Malceski. Courtesy: Seven Sport

THE saga that is Jake Carlisle's 2014 season took another intriguing turn last night.

After eight performances that have, for the most part, raised the ire of supporters, Essendon coach Mark Thompson raised eyebrows by naming the swingman as the Bombers' substitute.

Carlisle. Substitute. Against a smallish Sydney back line containing Ted Richards, Heath Grundy (both 192cm) and Jeremy Laidler (189cm)

BUDDY RETURNS TO TORMENT BOMBERS

The story played out interestingly on Triple M.

Before the game Bombers assistant coach Simon Goodwin pointed to Carlisle's versatility as a reason for why he was wearing the green vest.

With Tom Bellchambers returning to the side and playing forward, Carlisle could then come on — forward or back — as the situation merited.

LITTLE TAKES AIM AT ASADA

Asked about his counterpart's selection decision, Swans coach John Longmire said: "We probably didn't expect that".

Come half time, Franklin had the better of Michael Hurley, kicking four goals.

By the same point, and with the Bombers trailing by 42 points, Bellchambers had two touches and Joe Daniher just the five possessions and a mark.

Garry Lyon in commentary: "It's a staggering set of circumstances that Jake Carlisle is still the sub in this game.

Carlisle at Essendon training during the week. Source: News Corp Australia

"I don't know what sort of message it sends. I can't work it out for the life of me."

Carlisle finally got his moment in the 26th minute of the third term — but by then the horse had bolted.

With so much conjecture about whether he was best served playing forward or back, the only interesting point that remained in the game was to see what end of the ground Carlisle would jog to.

The answer? Forward, as Daniher had been the player to make way.

He took an uncontested grab and laid off two handballs prior to three quarter time, before snapping the opening goal of the final term when he picked up a ground ball and burst though a pack about 30m out.

Even after his night with a difference, Carlisle could afford a wry smile and then he continued on for the rest of the night with an intensity that would be expected of a substitute injected late in the game.

After pushing up the ground and then working back hard he was rewarded with a second major from the pocket in the dying minutes of the match.

The question now is this.

Was this a turnaround in form? Or the strongest suggestion yet that he is best used in bursts when playing forward?

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Ump concussed in nasty head clash

An umpire was stretchered from the ground after a clash with Sydney player Nick Malceski. Courtesy: Seven Sport

UMPIRE Troy Pannell was stretchered from the field after a sickening head clash with Sydney's Nick Malceski in the third quarter of Friday night's game at Etihad Stadium.

Play was halted for more than five minutes as Essendon medical staff — as the home club — tended to Pannell, an umpire with 128 games experience.

A stop in play close to the Bombers' half forward line led to the collision.

Pannell was stationary as Malceski, looking the other way, ambled in his direction.

Pannell is stretchered off the field. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

The pair clashed with Malceski's head hitting the back of Pannell's, which sent the umpire sprawling to the turf.

He was knocked out momentarily — and later vomited on the field — but quickly regained consciousness and was communicating with doctors as they loaded him on to the stretcher in a brace position as a safety measure.

"He's got memory loss — he thought he was the only out on the ground for about a minute," Essendon club doctor Bruce Reid said.

"He's got no neck injury, just a knock to the back of the head, and his memory and everything's coming back now."

Essendon's medical staff attended to Pannell quickly. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

The umpire later spoke to his wife in the rooms, but may still have gone to hospital last night as a precaution.

In a sour note, a section of Essendon fans booed Pannell as he was stretchered off the field.

The incident evoked memories of goal umpire Courtney Lai, who injured his knee in a collision with Bulldog Liam Picken in April last year.

Lai was stretchered off and ultimately missed the rest of the season.

For incidents such as these, players are generally charged with making negligent contact with an umpire by the Match Review Panel.

The charge, for a first offence, draws a $900 sanction with an early guilty plea.

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Aussie spoon looms large in Brisbane

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Leader James Horwill is banking on the Reds grimly fighting to patch up their prestige on Saturday night or they risk flunking as Australia's worst Super Rugby side.

Missing the finals happens. To finish dead last in the five-horse race that is the Australian Conference would be pure embarrassment.

That's what is on the line at Suncorp Stadium when the Melbourne Rebels will be salivating at the prospect of skewering the wounded Reds for the first time.

The fledgling Melbourne club have upset the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies and beaten the Western Force several times yet a 6-0 ledger of losses to the Reds galls them.

"The fact we play another Australian team makes it an easy game to get up for," Horwill said of the team's hunger to turn around five losses.

"There's extra meaning and all the boys know we are the only team in Australian that has never lost to them.

"Crunch time you say. I approach every game that way."

The 13th-placed Reds and Rebels both sit on a lowly 17 points but Scott Higginbotham's men from the south have a game in hand.

Reserve prop Jono Owen has signed a one-year deal with French club Grenoble for next season so the reshaping of the Reds has begun.

The Wallaby squad hopes of Jake Schatz, Anthony Faingaa, Mike Harris and Ben Tapuai have retreated with the Reds form dive and excellent showings by rival contenders.

They are still proud players who need to play to their full ability.

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Faingaa swinging into first receiver so Quade Cooper could operate wider with his pass in the slick JJ Taulagi try last weekend was a shrewd change-up that may be revisited on Saturday night.

Outside centre Tapuai was a totem pole at times in the shabby defence out wide against the Crusaders and must sharpen all those around him into a straight, advancing line.

Rebels coach Tony McGahan got one up on Reds counterpart Richard Graham, a former Easts premiership teammate, with a gritty 18-13 trial win.

Looking back, going to sleep on a 13-0 lead that night was the first sign of the dozy softness that has regularly killed the Reds this season.

Harassing physicality in the tackle, counter-rucking and the dogged defence that McGahan demands have become Rebels' staples.

"That trial win was a reminder we can win on the road and against good sides so we have revisited it," McGahan said.

"A lot of the Reds' first 40 minutes have been great this season so we are preparing to play them at their best, not worrying about whether they show up or not.

"At least three of the Reds will go down as among the greatest Reds players ever so we are still playing a very good side on paper."

The full-blooded Reds, not the water-down version, have to play like more than paper men.

McGahan saluted Higginbotham as a backrower of rare versatility which only rubbed in the fact he was a Reds game-breaker two years ago.

"Scott can do things others can't," McGahan said.

"We know the X-factor is there but to have 42 very solid involvements in the recent game against the Sharks shows the things he's doing at the breakdown, in attack and with his carries."

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Slater superb as Storm sink Souths

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RABBITOHS coach Michael Maguire was entitled to think he'd learned enough from Craig Bellamy prior to Friday night's meeting.

Yet even after six seasons under Bellamy's watch in Melbourne, Maguire still left ANZ Stadium under no illusions that his old mentor had schooled Souths in the fundamentals of controlling a footy game.

Billy Slater was superb as the Stormpunished South Sydney in the first half. Source: News Corp Australia

Superstar trio Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk produced a pre-Origin clinic to manufacture Melbourne's most complete performance of a patchy season thus far, the final 27-14 scoreline a partial reflection of the visitor's dominance.

Down 20-4 at halftime, Souths only threatened for a brief period shortly after the break when they posted consecutive tries on the back of five consecutive penalties. The prospect of a memorable comeback only lasted a few minutes before Slater sliced through some disorganised defence to restore the comfortable advantage for the remaining 24 minutes.

Cooper Cronk was also instrumental in Storm's victory. Source: Getty Images

A George Burgess fumble on the opening set established the disrupted tone for Souths, whose halves Adam Reynolds and John Sutton could not come close to matching Cronk's superb kicking game. Touted as joint candidates for the Blues halves, the Rabbitohs pair will not expect to be re-acquainted with Smith, Slater and Cronk for Origin I after Friday night's display.

"My kicks and Adam's kicks were way off and we didn't build any pressure," Sutton lamented.

The Storm defence gets to grips with George Burgess. Source: Getty Images

"I'm disappointed with my kicks, I didn't get them on the money. I spoke to Adam about it afterwards. We have to get better."

Having engineered four wins from his team's past five matches, Maguire described the result as "a hard one to take".

"The boys are putting the hard work in, but we learned some lessons from tonight's game," he said. "The precision of our play was the biggest thing."

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With the numerous haters joyfully predicting Melbourne's long-awaited demise after such sustained success, the Storm front rained perfection for the first time this year.

Slater's uncharacteristic errors have led to calls for his Friday night opposite - Greg Inglis - to steal his Maroons No. 1 jersey. But in an ideally-timed cameo, Slater out-pointed Inglis with a two-try haul that was deserved reward for his involvement and energy.

Sutton and Reynolds combined to keep South Sydney in the game. Source: Getty Images

Cronk grabbed a try of his own, set up three others and potted the match-sealing field goal with six minutes left. And apart from a blow-up at referee Gerard Sutton, who penalised Storm utility Ryan Hynchcliffe for an innocuous charge down on Reynolds, Smith was once again composure personified.

"We can get a little bit paranoid with player safety," Smith said of the Hynchcliffe penalty.

"I'm all for player safety, but everyone knows when a player goes out to attack the legs (of a kicker). I can't see what else Ryan Hynchcliffe is meant to do there. We are playing rugby league."

Greg Inglis finds the door is closed this time around. Source: News Corp Australia

Thanks to a welcome bye, it's a game Melbourne won't be playing next weekend.

Injury-hit Souths, however, face the task of re-grouping for a tricky match against Cronulla at Remondis Stadium. Origin will rob them of Inglis, and possibly back rowers Chris McQueen and Ben Te'o.

For not the first time this year injuries decimated their bench, with Kyle Turner succumbing to his second concussion in just the 13th minute. Rookie Kirisome Auva'a was replaced with the same affliction early in the second half, but Maguire played down concerns that hooker Api Koroisau had aggravated his shoulder injury.

The Rabbitohs look dejected after being outclassed by Melbourne. Source: Getty Images

On the plus side, the Rabbitohs could welcome back Issac Luke (shoulder) next week.

MELBOURNE 27 (B Slater 2 C Cronk S Waqa tries C Smith 5 goals C Cronk field goal) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 14 (A Johnston 2 A Reynolds tries A Reynolds goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Gavin Reynolds. Crowd: 18,508.

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We played ‘total football’: Sanderson

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CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson hailed Adelaide's response with a 21-point win against Collingwood last night as the best example of his vision of "total football".

And as Adelaide levelled its win-loss count to 4-4 at Adelaide Oval last night, Sanderson wants the standards set against Collingwood to become the template of the "Crowsway" football he promotes.

"It cannot be a one-off," Sanderson said. "I hope we now back that up.

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"That has to be driven by the playing group. As coaches, we can set up strategy and systems but we now ask the players to drive the continual improvement."

A standout of Adelaide's win — just its second at the Oval — was the Crows' tackling that reached an extremely high count of 92 last night.

"It was 55 at half-time and I put that up on the whiteboard in the rooms," Sanderson said. "Sometimes you get 55 for a whole game."

Adelaide key forward Taylor Walker finished with no goal from his first game after a 12-month absence from AFL football with a serious knee injury. But Sanderson was pleased with Walker's sound return to the big league after two games in the SANFL.

Sam Jacobs embraces Brenton Sanderson after the win. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

"Taylor needed an AFL match to find the speed, but he still looked great and he moved well," Sanderson said. "A couple of times he had the ball slip through his hands and he will be better for the run."

Adelaide Oval's failing siren was not heard above the crowd noise for the second time in a month. But this time the umpires — while not hearing the siren — let the third quarter play longer than permitted. This allowed Crows key forward Josh Jenkins to score his fourth goal two seconds after the timekeepers called an end to the term. His score gave Adelaide a 14-point lead to the last quarter.

"That's the second time it has happened here," said Sanderson referring to the earlier fade-out of the siren in the Port Adelaide-Geelong epic in the Anzac round. "Luckily, it is something I don't have to worry about."

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Payto & Panda: Izzy sets TAB record

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ISRAEL Folau will be the shortest ever first try-scoring option in TAB's history — for league or union — when the Waratahs play the Lions on Sunday afternoon.

After scoring the opening try in three of the Waratahs' five home games this year, Folau will be priced $4 to cross the stripe first against the South Africans.

In a market that usually sees even the best finishers at $10, Folau's is the shortest price ever offered and underlines he is the Mayor of Freak City.

Even prolific try sniffers like Nathan Blacklock, Nathan Merrett and the Morris twins were never close to $4.

"Even when Brett Morris was flying at one point, he was only $5," said TAB's bagman Glenn Munsie.

Told of his entry into the first tryscorer's history books, Folau said: "Really? I am busting to get another try, actually. It's been a while."

Folau's last try came less than a month ago when he took less than 60 seconds to cross against the Bulls, his comeback after "throatgate".

"Stuck" on nine tries, Folau is one try short of Peter Hewat's record for most tries in a Waratahs' season.

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Balmain Rugby will hold a fundraiser this Sunday after the sad passing of popular clubman Toby Crisp.

Crisp suffered a heart attack playing fourth grade for Balmain two weeks ago and passed away peacefully in RPA last Friday.

The loss of the engaged 25-year-old, who was also a valued member of the NewsCorp family, was described as "devastating" by Balmain president Warren Livingstone.

Toby Crisp Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Crisp's memory will be honoured on Sunday at the Balmain Hotel from 12pm. A fundraising effort will kick off to help provide clubs with lifesaving training and equipment.

"We are aiming to raise money for defibrillators for as many subbies clubs as possible, and also pay for CPR courses for as many teams as possible as well," Livingstone said.

Donations are welcome, and people are invited to contact the club via Facebook or at balmainrugby@gmail.com

We add our condolences to the Crisp family.

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AN injury-based version of Moneyball?

There was an interesting interview with Waratahs sports science and research manager Maria Nibali in Business Insider Australia this week, in which she suggests they can predict looming injuries for players and also recruit talent based on their resilience to predicted injuries.

Nibali said the Tahs program correctly predicted that three of their players would suffer non-contact injuries such as muscle strains in 2012, and they indeed did.

The Tahs say they use data intuitively when making recruitment calls.

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Unlike Woody Harrelson, Will Skelton can jump. He's 135kg, mind you, so it's not easy but the big Waratahs lock says the fact he isn't used as a lineout option for NSW doesn't mean he isn't capable of winning ball.

Skelton has been touted strongly as a Wallaby bolter for the June Test series against the French but the fact he's only pocketed a handful of lineout wins all year for the Tahs has been raised as potential question mark.

"I do jump, but for our team we have a few good light, rangy guys — although I wouldn't call Dave Dennis light," Skelton said.

"I am happy to lift them and when I get the call to jump I am happy to do that too.

"I have improved over the pre-season and this season a lot. I still get little comments from Benn Robinson to jump higher though."

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