No try, nobody would've cared: Broncos - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

No try, nobody would've cared: Broncos

By Will Swanton and Brent Read 08/04/2004 09:25:55 PM Comments (0)

Wayne Bennett believes Brisbane would have escaped censure - including the potentially disastrous loss of two competition points - if Corey Parker had not scored a try when he ran onto the field as a 14th player against Wests Tigers.

Chief executive Bruno Cullen, lawyer Terry Martin and Bennett presented the Broncos' case to the NRL for keeping the points from their 34-26 win in round three despite Parker entering the fray while an immobilised Shane Webcke was receiving assistance in the background.

No try to Parker and nobody would have cared, according to Bennett.

With even the Tigers claiming the Broncos should suffer nothing more serious than a fine, Cullen told the NRL it was a common occurrence for players to go on while an injured player was being helped off - and gave about a hundred examples.

The NRL's decision isn't expected until next week.

"I have no doubt at all that if Corey Parker didn't score the try, the old system is in place and they don't change anything," said Bennett.

"That's what I have great difficulty coming to grips with. I don't know why scoring the try or missing the tackle or dropping the ball had anything to do with the penalty that was imposed on us.

"The issue was we had 14 players on the field, not whether you score a try or drop a ball or miss a tackle.

"Everybody recognised we didn't have 14 players playing, but we had 14 players on the field, which was accepted practice in the NRL up until last weekend."

The two points could be crucial for the Broncos at the end of what should be a tight season. It could be the difference between winning and losing the minor premiership, getting into the top two or the top four, or making the top eight at all.

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