Kimlo
International Captain
Senior Staff
- Apr 26, 2008
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Source: Sydney Morning Herald
By Adrian Proszenko May 19, 2023 — 6.13pm
The NRL will examine whether the means justified the ends after bunker protocols were seemingly bypassed in a crucial decision in Penrith’s win over Brisbane on Thursday night. The bunker disallowed a try to Broncos star Kotoni Staggs after ruling that teammate Reece Walsh impeded Penrith’s attempts to defuse a kick from halfback Jock Madden.
Referee Adam Gee sent the decision upstairs as “no try” and bunker official Ashley Klein was poised to overrule after watching the initial replay.
“Reece Walsh is contesting the ball, we’re playing on at this stage,” Klein said. That comment prompted Gee, who felt Walsh was guilty of obstruction, to say: “It doesn’t look right to me Ash.”
Upon further review, Klein agreed, and the try became one of five disallowed at Suncorp Stadium.
Nine’s commentary team felt the right decision was made, albeit via an unusual process.
“Thank goodness Adam Gee looked up at the screen and went, ‘That doesn’t look right,’” Paul Vautin said. “The dude in the bunker [was going to rule] play on.
In the end they got it right.” Cameron Smith added: “It was a bit of common sense there, wasn’t it Fatty [Vautin]? If it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t right.”
NRL head of football Graham Annesley said it was too early to determine whether the decision was correct and if the right protocols were followed in reaching it.
However, the incident will go under the microscope, as do all contentious calls from the weekend, as part of an NRL review on Monday.
Not all decisions in our game are black and white,” Annesley said. “There will always be controversial calls that divide opinion, and last night’s decision falls firmly into that category.
As per standard practice, we will review it in great detail on Monday using all available camera angles and audio feeds. “In relation to the process, the objective of the bunker is to get things right, and match officials work as a team to do just that to a very high standard.
When they are wrong, we always demonstrate transparency and accountability by accepting responsibility.
However, where it simply comes down to a matter of opinion in very tight calls, we will of course back our officials
Broncos coach Kevin Walters felt Staggs should have been awarded a try and described the decision-making process as “strange”. “I thought it was a try, but you win some and you lose some,” Walters said.
“We’re not having a lot of joy with some decisions at the moment, but again I’m OK with that. If you keep working hard, things will turn around and decisions will start [going your way]. “We probably got a few earlier in the year when we went on that run, a few decisions went our way.
It was a bit weird though, the referee, the second time, had a look at it. I believe that’s when he [changed his mind]. I’m not sure what Reece is meant to do. He went to catch the ball, his eyes are on the ball. What if Reece catches it? Is it no try because he took the opposition out?
I’m not going to bang on about that, it wasn’t make or break for us. It was strange, it was a strange one. But some of our players do strange things on the field as well and I question what they are doing.”
By Adrian Proszenko May 19, 2023 — 6.13pm
The NRL will examine whether the means justified the ends after bunker protocols were seemingly bypassed in a crucial decision in Penrith’s win over Brisbane on Thursday night. The bunker disallowed a try to Broncos star Kotoni Staggs after ruling that teammate Reece Walsh impeded Penrith’s attempts to defuse a kick from halfback Jock Madden.
Referee Adam Gee sent the decision upstairs as “no try” and bunker official Ashley Klein was poised to overrule after watching the initial replay.
“Reece Walsh is contesting the ball, we’re playing on at this stage,” Klein said. That comment prompted Gee, who felt Walsh was guilty of obstruction, to say: “It doesn’t look right to me Ash.”
Upon further review, Klein agreed, and the try became one of five disallowed at Suncorp Stadium.
Nine’s commentary team felt the right decision was made, albeit via an unusual process.
“Thank goodness Adam Gee looked up at the screen and went, ‘That doesn’t look right,’” Paul Vautin said. “The dude in the bunker [was going to rule] play on.
In the end they got it right.” Cameron Smith added: “It was a bit of common sense there, wasn’t it Fatty [Vautin]? If it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t right.”
NRL head of football Graham Annesley said it was too early to determine whether the decision was correct and if the right protocols were followed in reaching it.
However, the incident will go under the microscope, as do all contentious calls from the weekend, as part of an NRL review on Monday.
Not all decisions in our game are black and white,” Annesley said. “There will always be controversial calls that divide opinion, and last night’s decision falls firmly into that category.
As per standard practice, we will review it in great detail on Monday using all available camera angles and audio feeds. “In relation to the process, the objective of the bunker is to get things right, and match officials work as a team to do just that to a very high standard.
When they are wrong, we always demonstrate transparency and accountability by accepting responsibility.
However, where it simply comes down to a matter of opinion in very tight calls, we will of course back our officials
Broncos coach Kevin Walters felt Staggs should have been awarded a try and described the decision-making process as “strange”. “I thought it was a try, but you win some and you lose some,” Walters said.
“We’re not having a lot of joy with some decisions at the moment, but again I’m OK with that. If you keep working hard, things will turn around and decisions will start [going your way]. “We probably got a few earlier in the year when we went on that run, a few decisions went our way.
It was a bit weird though, the referee, the second time, had a look at it. I believe that’s when he [changed his mind]. I’m not sure what Reece is meant to do. He went to catch the ball, his eyes are on the ball. What if Reece catches it? Is it no try because he took the opposition out?
I’m not going to bang on about that, it wasn’t make or break for us. It was strange, it was a strange one. But some of our players do strange things on the field as well and I question what they are doing.”
