Wayne Bennett has joked the refs “weren’t game to take it off him” after Alex Johnston edged closer to the all-time try-scoring record off a blatant forward pass on Thursday night. And NRL fans have labelled it “embarrassing” and “terrible” after the key moment was overshadowed.
Johnston scored the 210th try of his career on Thursday night as Souths thrashed the Dragons 40-0. It put him just two tries short of Ken Irvine’s all-time mark of 212 that has stood since 1973.
With the Rabbitohs on the bye next week, Johnston would need two tries to tie Irvine’s record in the final round of the season – or a hat-trick to break it – if the historic moment is to occur this year. But Thursday night’s moment was soured by controversy after the Rabbitohs got away with a clear forward pass.
Tallis Duncan’s final pass to Alex Johnston was blatantly forward. Image: Fox League/AAP
Tallis Duncan’s final pass to Johnston was blatantly forward to the naked eye, but the referee and touch-judge missed it. Crucially, the touchie wasn’t in line with the pass as they’d dropped back to get a good look at a potential put-down in the corner.
Speaking in commentary for Fox League at the time, Warren Smith was gobsmacked the try was allowed. And Bennett said in his post-match press conference: “I don’t think the ref was game to take it off him to be honest with you. Yeah it was marginal that pass.”
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan refused to blame some questionable calls for his team’s loss, but captain Damien Cook said: “I know it didn’t decide the result, but it looked pretty blatant.” He told a journo: “You’ve been an expert for a long time and I reckon you’re right.”
NRL fans blast ’embarrassing’ moment
The forward pass led to Souths taking a 16-0 lead, and there was more controversy when the Rabbitohs avoided having a player sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul after a Dragons line-break. Commentator Michael Ennis labelled it a “crazy” call from Gerard Sutton not to use the sin-bin.
On social media, Dragons fans were incredulous. One person wrote: “Wouldn’t that be embarrassing if Kenny Irvine’s record goes off a forward pass.” Another added: “Terrible forward pass not called in the Dragons vs Rabbitohs game for a try.”
While a third added: “Missed 2m forward pass leads to a try. A sin bin every day of the week not given. And the NRL probably wondering why there’s 200 people in the crowd.”
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Bennett played down the significance of the milestone should Johnston reach it against arch-rivals the Roosters in Round 27. “I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss about it, to be honest,” he told a journo.
“It’s there, it’s not broken. The day it is, it’ll be a great moment. But no one can predict when and where. So what, are we going to live the rest of our lives until it happens as, ‘What’s Alex going to do?’ Let’s just get on with our lives. That’s what he’s doing. It’ll come and we’ll all celebrate it.”
Alex Johnston celebrates with Tallis Duncan after a Rabbitohs try. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The depleted Dragons are now officially out of finals contention after only being a mathematical chance heading into the game. “Souths had a shorter turnaround than us, they’ve got injuries (as well), so we’re not tossing up any excuses,” Flanagan said.
“If I start tossing up excuses, then I become one of the weak ones. The opposition didn’t give us a chance to breathe. They were outstanding with the football. We were the opposite.”
with AAP