Quote: Kevs Head "If that's the case the ref should penalise him for offside. That rarely happens - for the simple reason that he's not interfering with play. He's only brought in to play by the ahb making no attempt to pass to his team mate. but throwing at the prone player. It's cynical and, yes, all teams can be coached to do it but it'll make the game worse.'"
I'm sorry, but having just watched the replay again, it was a penalty all day long. He was obstructing the mark, not just in the ruck. He made no effort to move. Houghton literally couldn't pass to the left without going around him (which he shouldn't have to) and couldn't scoot.
Had he laid down and rolled at, he wouldn't have obstructed. You can't just kneel upright on the mark and expect not to get penalised.