- Melbourne Storm winger Grant Anderson was the culprit
- Referee Adam Gee didn’t feel the on-field niggle was necessary
- Awarded the Bulldogs a penalty, supporters were stunned
Footy fans were in disbelief on Friday night following a bizarre incident where Melbourne Storm star Grant Anderson was penalised for an on-field ‘head rub.’
While Craig Bellamy’s men eventually ran out 20-14 winners, an incident midway through the second half at AAMI Park wouldn’t have pleased the decorated coach.
Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton juggled a pass into Melbourne’s Nick Meaney as he got tackled, with referee Adam Gee ruling a knock-on.
Seconds later Storm winger Anderson taunted Burton for his error by ruffling his headgear, which Bulldogs enforcer Viliame Kikau reacted to.
A melee followed, with Burton targeting Meaney as he incorrectly thought the centre was the one who gave him a forceful head rub.
Inexplicably, Gee then penalised Melbourne, feeling Anderson’s antics were unnecessary.
‘What happens is the touch on the back of the head instigates it,’ Gee told Anderson.
‘That’s what that reaction is. It’s going against you.’
Footy fans were in disbelief on Friday night following a bizarre incident where Melbourne Storm star Grant Anderson was penalised for an on-field ‘head rub’ (pictured left)
Referee Adam Gee (pictured left) felt Grant Anderson’s (right) antics were unnecessary, with the Bulldogs awarded a penalty which stunned footy fans
It didn’t take long for bemused footy fans to question why Gee reversed his decision.
‘Penalty for rubbing a head in NRL is crazy,’ one posted on X.
‘Might be one of the worst penalties ever. Penalising a player for geeing up after a knock on? Game’s gone,’ said another.
‘That’s the most pathetic penalty I reckon I’ve witnessed in rugby league,’ a third weighed in with.
Veteran NRL reporter Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield was also stunned.
‘I never in my life seen a player penalised for touching a rival’s head,’ he vented on social media, while another supporter felt it was time for Gee to find a new career.
‘Retire Adam Gee, that is the softest penalty in league history,’ he fumed on X.
‘Pat on the head after a knock-on….we are going to see a lot of penalties if that is now the new standard.’
Meanwhile, Melbourne hooker Harry Grant won’t play again until the NRL finals after he was charged with a Grade 2 shoulder charge on Canterbury forward Harry Hayes.
While an early guilty plea Grant will miss upcoming matches against the Roosters and Broncos.
