It took only minutes for controversy to strike the Roosters and Sea Eagles clash after a Lachlan Croker try left commentators “stunned”.
Manly playmaker Luke Brooks put up a towering bomb six minutes into the contest, with Tricolours fullback James Tedesco soaring high to reel the ball in.
But whilst in the air Tedesco had his legs taken out from under him after coming into contact with teammate Victor Radley and Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic.
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Fox League’s Warren Smith and Greg Alexander both believed the try would be disallowed after Trbojevic made no effort to contest the high ball which landed in Croker’s lap.
“The interpretation this year of players not tunnelling through on catches of high balls and putting them off in catching it, Trbojevic makes contact with Tedesco’s legs,” Smith said.
“Given what we were told in pre-season, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was overturned… he took his eyes off the ball and lost sight of it. As a result he slightly over runs it.”
“Really Tom didn’t make a play at the ball, he ran through and made contact with Tedesco… if there was no touch on Tedesco it’d be okay,” Greg Alexander added.
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However, as Reuben Garrick lined up his conversion, referee Todd Smith still hadn’t blown his whistle for a review before the try was confirmed.
“That will be a surprise given the new rulings and interpretations in pre-season, it was one of the key areas, you have to have eyes on the ball and be contesting the ball,” Smith said.
“Try confirmed, that is a massive surprise.”
“Absolutely, from what we’ve seen earlier in the year and even through pre-season if you’re chasing the bomb and don’t contest it but make contact with the player it’s game over,” Alexander said.
“I am stunned that’s not a penalty to the Roosters.”
The rugby league world was left equally stunned, erupting after the decision.
Source Agencies
