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DES Hasler has called for stand-alone weekends during State of Origin and blasted the NSW medical staff after the Bulldogs were forced to rush a rookie replacement to Canberra to cover for Josh Morris.
After watching his understrength team go down 32-20, Hasler said it was like going “back to the 80s” with NRL clubs forced to play “second fiddle” to Origin after Morris was called up to cover for the injured Josh Dugan.
Hasler revealed he only found out about Morris’ late inclusion for Wednesday night’s State of Origin opener at 10am on Sunday.
The desperate club was forced to send an SOS to Sydney for Anthony Mundine’s nephew Reimis Smith to be rushed to Canberra to make his NRL debut.
Iosia Soliola and the Raiders ran out 32-20 winners over the Bulldogs.
Incredibly, 19-year-old Smith had played a full game of NSW Cup on Saturday when he had scored a try.
But with the rest of his brand-new teammates already in Canberra, the son of former NRL player Tyran Smith was chauffeured south by a member of the Bulldogs’s media department and then sent out to mark up on Canberra’s dangerous duo Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana in Morris’ absence.
For a while it was looking like it was going to be a fairytale debut for Smith when he scored a double in the first half which included a try with his first touch.
But unfortunately for the Bulldogs the Raiders came home with a powerful surge, scoring four tries to fightback from 20-10 down to win the game.
Asked about the decision to call up Morris on the morning of the match, Hasler responded: “It wasn’t very well handled to professionalism, was it?”
Asked what was a better way of doing it, Hasler answered: “You can’t run two competitions at once. Stand-alone weekend.”
Jordan Rapana scores a try for the Raiders.
Asked if the NRL should push for changes to the scheduling next year, Hasler said: “Let’s hope they learn something out of it.”
“It is tough on an NRL side and this is for anybody because (other clubs) could have been in the same boat as we were.
“It is almost as if you are playing second fiddle to what Origin is about. Which is not a good thing.
“There is too much investment of money and time for this to happen.
“Two competition points in NRL are vital.
“But the players shouldn’t have to do it. A player shouldn’t have to back up when he played the day before.
“It like coming back to the 80s, isn’t it.’’
Bulldogs debutant Reimis Smith catches a pass before scoring a try.
Asked if he was questioning the NSW medical staff, Hasler added: “Yeah, there is a breakdown there somewhere in the communication process.”
NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden hit back at the claims on Sunday night.
“There appears to be confusion on the part of the Bulldogs as to the circumstances behind what happened to Josh Dugan,” Trodden said.
“The difficulty that caused him to be ruled out didn’t manifest itself until this morning and was communicated to them as soon as it became apparent to us.
“We totally understand why Canterbury would be upset about their plans being thrown into disarray because of the late withdrawal of Josh Morris.
“But when they reflect on the comments made about the professionalism of the NSW medical staff, they may think those comments are unjustified.
“These comments are about people who are leaders in their profession and who have been involved in Rugby League for many, many years and don’t deserve to have their professional standards questioned.”
Reimis Smith was rushed into the Bulldogs side — and scored two tries.
Hasler was certainly not critical of young Smith’s effort.
“I thought the debutant was one of the best out there to tell you the truth,” Hasler said.
It was a crucial loss for the Bulldogs who on Sunday had the chance to move to 16 competition points which would have put them level with the Broncos and Cowboys.
Instead they remain on 14 points, just one ahead of the Raiders and with a stack of other teams right on their tail.
The Bulldogs’ next game is against the table-topping Sharks next Monday.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...h/news-story/742ed2af96b7653911226022ae6dff45
After watching his understrength team go down 32-20, Hasler said it was like going “back to the 80s” with NRL clubs forced to play “second fiddle” to Origin after Morris was called up to cover for the injured Josh Dugan.
Hasler revealed he only found out about Morris’ late inclusion for Wednesday night’s State of Origin opener at 10am on Sunday.
The desperate club was forced to send an SOS to Sydney for Anthony Mundine’s nephew Reimis Smith to be rushed to Canberra to make his NRL debut.
Iosia Soliola and the Raiders ran out 32-20 winners over the Bulldogs.
Incredibly, 19-year-old Smith had played a full game of NSW Cup on Saturday when he had scored a try.
But with the rest of his brand-new teammates already in Canberra, the son of former NRL player Tyran Smith was chauffeured south by a member of the Bulldogs’s media department and then sent out to mark up on Canberra’s dangerous duo Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana in Morris’ absence.
For a while it was looking like it was going to be a fairytale debut for Smith when he scored a double in the first half which included a try with his first touch.
But unfortunately for the Bulldogs the Raiders came home with a powerful surge, scoring four tries to fightback from 20-10 down to win the game.
Asked about the decision to call up Morris on the morning of the match, Hasler responded: “It wasn’t very well handled to professionalism, was it?”
Asked what was a better way of doing it, Hasler answered: “You can’t run two competitions at once. Stand-alone weekend.”
Jordan Rapana scores a try for the Raiders.
Asked if the NRL should push for changes to the scheduling next year, Hasler said: “Let’s hope they learn something out of it.”
“It is tough on an NRL side and this is for anybody because (other clubs) could have been in the same boat as we were.
“It is almost as if you are playing second fiddle to what Origin is about. Which is not a good thing.
“There is too much investment of money and time for this to happen.
“Two competition points in NRL are vital.
“But the players shouldn’t have to do it. A player shouldn’t have to back up when he played the day before.
“It like coming back to the 80s, isn’t it.’’
Bulldogs debutant Reimis Smith catches a pass before scoring a try.
Asked if he was questioning the NSW medical staff, Hasler added: “Yeah, there is a breakdown there somewhere in the communication process.”
NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden hit back at the claims on Sunday night.
“There appears to be confusion on the part of the Bulldogs as to the circumstances behind what happened to Josh Dugan,” Trodden said.
“The difficulty that caused him to be ruled out didn’t manifest itself until this morning and was communicated to them as soon as it became apparent to us.
“We totally understand why Canterbury would be upset about their plans being thrown into disarray because of the late withdrawal of Josh Morris.
“But when they reflect on the comments made about the professionalism of the NSW medical staff, they may think those comments are unjustified.
“These comments are about people who are leaders in their profession and who have been involved in Rugby League for many, many years and don’t deserve to have their professional standards questioned.”
Reimis Smith was rushed into the Bulldogs side — and scored two tries.
Hasler was certainly not critical of young Smith’s effort.
“I thought the debutant was one of the best out there to tell you the truth,” Hasler said.
It was a crucial loss for the Bulldogs who on Sunday had the chance to move to 16 competition points which would have put them level with the Broncos and Cowboys.
Instead they remain on 14 points, just one ahead of the Raiders and with a stack of other teams right on their tail.
The Bulldogs’ next game is against the table-topping Sharks next Monday.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...h/news-story/742ed2af96b7653911226022ae6dff45
