It was a weekend of frustration for more than one of Group 4’s western clubs with a number of complaints relating to various matters, including Hobday’s ban for a high tackle that saw him sent off against Narrabri.

One Moree official said there seemed to be one rule for the Boars and one rule for the rest.

“He’s a prop forward who has never been sent off,” the official said.

“He got three weeks for a high tackle that we think he shouldn’t have even been sent off for.

“John Bartlett from Gunnedah gets nothing for a headbutt and a headbutt is worse than a high tackle.

“We’re really dirty about it.”

Officials and coaches are loath to put their name to public criticisms of referees or the judiciary because they may then be hauled in front of the Group and fined.

But they are right – there is one rule for Moree when it comes to the judiciary that doesn’t apply to others and it may just have an influence on the outcome of some hearings.

“They made a rule that Moree doesn’t have to travel to the judiciary,” the Moree official said.

“We can just do it over the phone.

“And Daniel has a newborn and there was no way he was able to get there.”

Another club official said last year that this process may be disadvantaging its players because they are not able to defend themselves in front of the panel the way other players can.

The club just wants the situation sorted out for the future so that there is more consistency.

“We just want to do something about it,” the Moree official said.

“We thought his good record would help him.

“He’s played all these years and never been sent off.”

Moree is not the only side complaining.

Narrabri also has reason for frustration.

It copped the rough end of the draw this year with three hard games in the conference series compounded by a quirk in the schedule that means they always play the side coming off the bye.

“We seem to play every team after they’ve had the bye, so they’re fresh,” captain-coach Tommy Gemmell said.

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