‘That’s a crazy call’: Dane Gagai try ruled out in ‘ridiculous’ bunker controversy

The NRL Bunker has ignited controversy once again as a pair of staggering decisions helped the Broncos to defeat the Knights in the Hunter.

The first saw Newcastle denied a go-ahead try on the brink of halftime when Dane Gagai was adjudged to have lost control of the ball, before Brisbane again benefited from a controversial call with 10 minutes left in the match when a Selwyn Cobbo try was awarded despite what appeared to be an obvious obstruction in the build-up.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien blew up in his coach’s box at the pair of decisions, as his side let their heads drop after a promising first half – eventually falling apart in a blowout 36-12 defeat.

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‘Ridiculous’ bunker robs Gagai and co. | 00:55

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With just over five minutes remaining in the first half and scores level at 6-6, Anthony Milford delivered a grubber to the corner and – after Corey Oates overran the ball – Dane Gagai gathered and grounded the ball on the line.

But the Fox League commentators were left astounded when video referee Grant Atkins overturned the on-field decision, adjudging Gagai lost grip of the ball and failed to regather it before he put it down.

Mick Ennis was stunned by the decision, stating: “That’s ridiculous. Dane Gagai releases his hands – the point of his fingertips – to be able to get the ball pressed down with his forearm. It never comes away.

As a shocked Gagai shook his head at the decision, Ennis continued: “He can’t believe it! Gee that’s a bad call. I don’t like that one at all. His fingertips might come away but he keeps it there (against his forearm) to press it down. We just do everything we can to try and find ways to try and take tries off you these days. Gee it’s frustrating.”

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Warren Smith added: “Literally the position of his thumb is why he’s been disallowed that try. That’s a crazy call. His hand comes back in contact with the ball and he puts it down with force. For mine, that’s having re-gripped the ball.”

However, Cooper Cronk said at halftime he believed it was the right decision: “I don’t think Dane Gagai gets fully re-gripped, he uses the grass to regather the ball.”

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‘A kick in the teeth for the Broncos’ | 01:54

But Newcastle’s frustrations with the Bunker only grew when Selwyn Cobbo finished a 70-metre team try when the score was 14-12 – after what seemed to be a clear obstruction.

Knights defender Adam Clune was blocked by Brisbane forward Jordan Riki, as Te Maire Martin ran behind his teammate before passing the ball.

Warren Smith said: “The bunker has been black and white on this for a number of seasons now,” believing the try was a certainty to be ruled out.

But bunker referee Atkins declared: “Te Maire Martin catches the ball on the inside of the lead runner, however he passes it before running behind.”

Adam O’Brien blew up after the Knights twice copped controversial decisions from the video referee.Source: FOX SPORTS

Smith said: “I don’t agree with that. I don’t agree with that at all!”

Ennis explained: “What they’re saying is he’s caught it on the inside and passed it before he’s run around the outside.

Smith added: “From what we saw that just simply didn’t happen. He releases it, but not before he’s on the other side of the decoy in Jordan Riki.”

Knights coach Adam O’Brien was furiously gesticulating in his coaching box, pointing to the point in the field where Gagai had his own try ruled out.

Smith said: “If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck – it’s a duck. And that’s an obstruction. As we know it, and we’ve come to know it in recent seasons, that’s an obstruction every day of the week.”

“Any time that you catch on the inside, they always pull that up,” Ennis replied. “And looking on replay, their conversation about passing before he ran behind the player, it looked like he passed (while) directly behind in my opinion.”