Tom Chester has been told to buy a lottery ticket after being awarded a fortunate try against the Dolphins.
The Cowboys star miraculously touched down after the ball was ripped from his hands in a last-ditch tackle attempt by Selwyn Cobbo.
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But the decision to award a try – on advice from the Bunker – has split NRL experts and pundits.
Referee Liam Kennedy initially decided not to give the try because he felt the ball was knocked on, but he reversed his decision after consulting the Bunker.
It was ruled Cobbo had knocked the ball back and therefore Chester did not have to re-grip the ball after it came out of his hands.
He managed to get the required contact on the ball to touch it down on the line and a try was given, sparking backlash among some pundits and fans.
Enjoying the Dolphins vs Cowboys game but just imagine the Tom Chester ‘try’ deciding a grand final,” wrote Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss on X.
“It has been a knock on since 1908. Disallow try and 99.99 per cent of fans would have agreed.
“The Bunker was in the 0.01 per cent who thought try… What are the odds!”
At halftime Cooper Cronk said on Fox Sports: “It doesn’t look like a try.
“What the Bunker has ruled is that Cobbo has played at the ball so therefore it’s not a knock on, it’s a ball in motion and all Chest has to do is put his hands down.
“It’s not whether a try or no try, it’s has Cobbo played at the ball or is he just making a tackle? Because if he’s just making a tackle it’s a knock on.”
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves quickly interjected, arguing: “Nah I don’t fell like he’s playing at the ball whatsoever, he’s trying to make a genuine tackle.
“He’s trying to wrap the arms and the ball comes out loosely. It’s not a try.”
Several fans were in agreed that the Bunker made the wrong call, but some hit back at Voss’ tweet too.
“Liam Kennedy with another howler,” wrote one fan.
“Farcical decision,” added another.
A third wrote: “They have lost the plot, ridiculous decision. What is going on.”
And another commented: “What the actual…@NRL. Tom Chester buy a lotto ticket. Try to the Cowboys.”
But one viewer saw it differently, hitting back at Voss: “I understand the position in the media for talking points.
“But can we actually get some more actual attention to what the referee says when making the decision rather than cheap outrage points.”
Another added: “The way I saw it, Selwyn Cobbo played at Tom Chester’s right bicep to attempt a tackle and the contact with the ball was purely incidental. Ref interpretation was incorrect and bunker erred by supporting that interpretation.”
Originally published as NRL experts are divided over a controversial Bunker intervention which saw Cowboys awarded try