Gold Coast Titans Josh Hannay has vented his frustration at the NRL officiating on the weekend after his side went down to the Melbourne Storm after a controversial try at the end. The Titans were in the game for 78 minutes against the Storm at AAMI Park with Craig Bellamy’s team desperate for a win to keep their season alive.
However, Hannay was left disappointed after the match calling out the Jack Howarth try in the 30th minute. Howarth was close to the line as the Titans defence scrambled to stop him from scoring.
Josh Hannay (pictured right) felt a number of big calls, including the Jack Howarth try (pictured left), went against the Gold Coast Titans. (Images: Fox Sports/Getty Images)
Howarth dived for the line, but his initial effort was held up as Howarth attempted to free his hands in the tackle. After a brief second, Howarth wriggled free and slammed the ball down.
However, a number of Titans players protested with suggestions he was held up before he got his hands free. The Storm centre was also pushed back in the second-effort, which could suggest a double movement to promote the ball.
Although the try was awarded. At half-time, Fox Sports analyst Michael Ennis and Bryan Fletcher both claimed the try shouldn’t have stood due to a second effort from Howarth. And the incident didn’t sit well with Hannay. Speaking after the game, Hannay said the big calls went against his team in the six point loss.
“I expected it to go the way it went just because of who they are and who we are,” Hannay said in a telling press conference moment. “The grit, the determination, the want – sometimes you just don’t get the bounce or the rub of the green, you know?
“And sometimes that’s all you need when you’re putting in that much effort. We had none of it tonight, which is often the case for some reason with this club.”
Josh Hannay felt the calls went against his side in the loss to the Melbourne Storm. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
NRL fans divided over Jack Howarth try
Fans were also divided on the incident. Many felt Howarth definitely took a second effort to put the try down when he was behind the try line. Others felt it was in the act of scoring and it was fine.
Josh Hannay takes swipe at process
When Hannay was asked whether he could seek some clarification during the week about the decisions he thought were controversial, he took a swipe at the process. “The most pointless exercise in our game is talking to the officials during the week,” he said.
“It’s pointless – it just makes you more frustrated. So what you hope is that when you take the field every week that you’re going to get a fair crack.” The Titans take on the Manly Sea Eagles at home this weekend. While the Storm play the Roosters in Sydney.