A controversial penalty awarded to the Sea Eagles has been raised in Wayne Bennett’s post-match press conference, with the legendary coach expressing his frustration with the call.
In the 62nd minute, Dolphins forward Jesse Bromwich was penalised for high contact on Tom Trbojevic.
It was completely accidental and the force was extremely minimal with Bromwich contacting Trbojevic as the fullback was falling to the ground.
Trbojevic dropped the ball when trying to play the ball, but Manly challenged that there was high contact.
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The replay showed Bromwich made contact with Trbojevic’s head and the Bunker reversed the decision.
“Wayne Bennett has been around longer than anybody in the NRL, and he’s watching on thinking, ‘gee is that what we’ve come to’”, Fox League’s Warren Smith said.
“Look, there was contact but it wouldn’t have bruised a grape to be honest with you,” Cooper Cronk added.
“It would have rearranged a couple of eyelashes, if that,” Smith replied.
The call almost proved costly for the Dolphins, as Manly added a penalty goal in the ensuing set to take a 24-22 lead.
It wouldn’t matter much though, with the Dolphins scoring eight points to propel themselves to a 30-24 win.
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Bennett didn’t agree with the decision when quizzed about it post-match.
“I didn’t think it should have been a penalty,” Bennett said.
“It looked like there was no intent to hit him in the head. It was just the way he was falling and the way Jesse was coming in.
“I thought he was backing out of it. I didn’t even think he was trying to go through with it.
“There was always going to be contact. We’ve got to realise that sometimes it’s accidental contact, not deliberate contact.”
Source Agencies
