SYDNEY - The Sydney Roosters are yet to decide whether they will appeal against a A$10,000 ($12,976) breach notice issued by the NRL over comments coach Brad Fittler made about refereeing.
Fittler's remarks came at the post-match press conference after his struggling team's 19-12 win over the Sharks on Saturday
night.
He was fuming after a no-try ruling against his fullback Jordan Tansey due to obstruction by veteran backrower Craig Fitzgibbon.
"I feel like swearing," Fittler said.
"I thought it was a really, really bad decision ... I just can't believe that.
"Our team is the only team in the comp that they look at them ultra closely.
"It happened with Tupes (former Rooster Anthony Tupou) last year and it just started a trend that every time we had a block play they would just scrutinise us to death ... it's just crap."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said on Monday the comments suggested that referees were being biased in making decisions involving in the Roosters.
"The NRL allows coaches every chance to disagree with decisions and to fairly criticise performances and indeed we had no problem with the coach calling something a bad decision," said Gallop.
"What we have not allowed and will not tolerate are suggestions that referees are biased against a particular team.
"The implications of such a statement in terms of a referee's integrity are more far reaching than the official or coach making the statement may realise at the time."
Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said on Monday the club was "disappointed" at being served the breach notice.
"The club is disappointed with the decision and we will be making a submission to the NRL," Noyce said.
But the club wants to review the press conference and wording of the breach notice before deciding if that submission will be an official appeal.
The Roosters have five business days to respond to the breach notice after which the penalty will either be confirmed or varied.
- AAP
