NRL referee Adam Gee has come under fire for a controversial Bunker decision that went against Parramatta in their heartbreaking King’s Birthday loss to Canterbury on Monday. The Bulldogs breathed life into their stuttering season with a thrilling 14-12 victory in a drama-filled contest that was decided by a late Stephen Crichton penalty goal, after a questionable high shot from Tallyn Da Silva on Matt Burton.
Fans also claimed Parramatta were dudded after being denied a try on the stroke of halftime that could have had a major impact on the final result. Joash Papalii thought he’d put the Eels in front right at the end of a scoreless first 40 minutes after Lachlan Galvin spilled the footy twice from a wild Jacob Kiraz offload deep in his own half.
The NRL world has hit out at a controversial Bunker decision against Parramatta (L) after claiming Joash Papalii (R) was dudded a try on halftime in the loss to Canterbury. Pic: Fox League/Getty
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The Parramatta five-eighth pounced on the error from Galvin and toed the ball forward before regathering and touching down next to the posts. On-field referee Todd Smith sent it upstairs for review, but Bunker official Gee ruled that Galvin had gained possession of the footy after his first knock-on, meaning the play was dead and Papalii’s try would not stand.
In real time, there was little evidence to suggest that Galvin had control of the footy before losing it a second time in the tackle from Papalii. But Gee decided from the slow-motion replays that the Bulldogs halfback regained possession momentarily after explaining his decision to chalk off the try.
Joash Papalii (R) had a try for the Eels controversially chalked off after the Bunker ruled Bulldogs half Lachlan Galvin (L) had regained possession of the footy before knocking on a second time. Pic: Getty/Fox League
(Getty)NRL world fumes over Bunker call as Eels try chalked off
Former NRL star James Graham labelled it a “disgrace” in commentary for Triple M. “What? No he didn’t,” Graham said in response to Gee’s ruling. “That is a disgrace. Are they making this up? The play is now dead?”
Former Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was also left fuming at the call from the video referee. “Adam Gee in box, oh my God! That’s ridiculous… he knocked it on the first time and then the referee has said after that he’s picked it up. He was in the process of picking it up. He had no control of it and then a tackle over the top forces the error.”
The incident sparked outrage across social media, with viewers agreeing that Galvin did not have control of the ball when he spilled it a second time. And disgruntled fans urged the Bunker to stop making decisions based off slow-motion replays that often don’t provide an accurate picture of what transpired in real-time.
Parramatta coach refuses to blame officials after loss
However, Eels coach Jason Ryles refused to blame the officiating after his side’s two-point defeat. In a classy post-match interview, Ryles also accepted that Da Silva made the slightest contact with the head of Burton, who stayed down on the ground to earn the crucial penalty that led to Crichton’s winning goal.
“I think he (Da Silva) did make contact with his head, just maybe. So them’s the rules,” the Parramatta coach conceded. “When you slow it down enough, and the players lay down and wait for the penalty… it is what it is.”