OLD Bar coach Jason Morrissey has been cited to appear before the Group Three management committee tonight after he approached the match officials at halftime of the preliminary semi-final at Old Bar.
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The Pirates were trailing Forster-Tuncurry as the sides made their way to the sheds for the break. Morrissey fronted referee Jason Allan and touch judges Bevan Coleman and Barry Murray and was involved in a heated conversation before heading to speak to his players. Old Bar went on to win the game 36-28, to secure a place in Sunday's major semi-final against Wauchope at Wauchope.
Referee Allan told Morrissey that he would have to watch the second half behind the fence and he wasn't able to take his place with the interchange players and trainers. He didn't start the second half until Morrissey was behind the fence, just to the right of the huddle although still within ear shot of his training staff.
Morrissey defended his actions immediately after the match.
"I'll do anything for these blokes to make sure they get a fair go,'' he said.
"I don't want to bag the refs at all but it just wasn't fair in the first half. The penalty count was 9-3 and that's not good.''
Forster-Tuncurry coach Terry McCartney herded his players into the shed at fulltime obviously concerned that comments would be made to the officials. Unfortunately the makeshift dressing room for the referees was right next to Forster's shed.
He descibed Morrissey's intervention as 'game changing' claiming his side 'copped a bit of a flogging from the ref' in the second half.
"Maybe I should have yelled at him at halftime too and got put behind the fence,'' he said.
Group Three secretary Barrie Smith said Morrissey will be asked to explain his actions. However, he wouldn't be drawn on what penalty, if any, Morrissey or the Pirates may face.
The three match officials will also attend tonight's hearing.
