A seething James Tedesco voiced an extraordinary accusation to referee Adam Gee when Victor Radley was marched to the sin bin on Tuesday afternoon.
Roosters lock Radley and Dragons prop Michael Molo collided in a tackle in the 64th minute of the Anzac Day match, in which the Tricolours prevailed in a 27-26 thriller on the back of a Luke Keary field goal.
The referee and Tedesco were at odds over what happened in the collision, with the whistleblower arguing that Radley had caught Molo high with his right shoulder as the Roosters captain insisted they had only clashed heads.
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Not only did the referee award the Dragons a penalty and place Radley on report, he sent the England international to the sin bin for a third time in three games.
It meant the Roosters, who were level with the Dragons at 26-26, would have to play with one less man for the next 10 minutes, but the immediate concern of Tedesco was whether Radley had become a victim of his rap sheet.
“If that was anyone else…” Tedesco fumed as the referee butted in.
“No mate, we’re not going down that path,” the official shot back.
In Nine’s commentary box, Andrew Johns backed up Tedesco and Radley.
”What’s he supposed to do there?” the eighth Immortal said.
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“He hits and spins. If anything it is Molo who causes the head clash because he hits and props and twists.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson condemned the sin-bin call in his press conference.
“The angles that I just went and had a look at over and over again, I see the head clash,” Robinson said.
“You know, (from) those shots I didn’t see any shoulder contact, but I know there’s more angles.
“So Rads was adamant that it was head on head, you see where the head contact is.
JWH, Radley combine for slick Roosters try
“But yeah, unless they show more angles there. Then I can only go on what I’ve seen so far.
“I think Victor gets treated differently, just because of the the aggression that he plays with.”
Radley was rattled when asked about the sin bin on the Fox League coverage.
“I’m all over the shop personally,” Radley said.
“I was losing my mind in the sheds there.
“It was a head clash.
“I don’t know who made that decision. Shit decision. Sorry.
“But for the boys to win … We shouldn’t have been in that position but we were, and Keary nailed it in the end and we hung on there in the end.
“But I’m all over the shop, my head’s gone, I’m lost.
“It was a head clash, it was sweet, but for me to get 10 in the bin for that … I don’t know, mate.
“I’m all over the shop at the end of the game.
“I’m so happy we won. If we lost I would have been even worse. It’s really tough. I don’t know what they see in that, but it was a head clash, but whatever.”
In chaotic scenes at Allianz Stadium, the Tricolours managed to prevent St George Illawarra from scoring while Radley watched from the sideline.
Keary nails Anzac Day field goal
And only several seconds after the firebrand forward lumbered back onto the paddock, Keary received a pass from Joey Manu and nailed a field goal from about 26 metres out, giving the Roosters their game-winning 27-26 lead.
After trailing 20-12 at half-time, the Dragons stormed back with three tries in just eight minutes to lock up the scoreline at 26-26.
Dragons flyer Tautau Moga had a prolific day on the right wing, crossing for a hat-trick.
But the fightback ultimately fell short as defeat heaped more pressure on Anthony Griffin, who’s all but certain to not be coaching the Dragons beyond this season.
The Roosters will face the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium next Sunday, before the Dragons meet the Bulldogs in Wollongong later in the afternoon.
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