Jason Ryles has blasted the Bunker after a controversial call in Parramatta’s 34-16 loss to the Dolphins on Friday night that he believes could “decide a grand final”.
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
The Eels blew an early 10-0 lead to be run down by a fast-finishing Dolphins side who are in a strong position to finish inside the top four.
The Dolphins went ahead late in the first half through a Jamayne Isaako try, although the winger was initially ruled to have lost the ball in the tackle from Sean Russell before that was overruled by the Bunker.
While Ryles stressed that the decision did not impact the final result, he was less than impressed with the call.
“I don’t go anywhere near that. I don’t go any near the refs or anything like that because I know they’ve got a tough job,” Ryles said.
“But one thing I will say is that Bunker’s got more technology than they had getting to the moon and they still stuff it up.
“That’s what I don’t understand. That’s just all I’ve got to say about the Bunker. I don’t have anything good to say about it, so I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Except Ryles didn’t leave it at that as journalists continued to press him on the Bunker.
“I’m not saying any more about the Bunker. But just get it right,” Ryles said, prompting a reporter to instead ask him on the decision itself.
“I thought he did,” Ryles said when asked if Isaako lost the ball.
“I thought it went up no try, and then how they turned it over… I don’t know, you’re watching it, you’re thinking the same thing. Did it have an influence on the game?
“No, it didn’t, but that’s going to decide a grand final, let’s be honest.”
Dolphins enter top-four in statement win | 03:54
Ryles later confirmed he could hear the Bunker’s communication in the coach’s box, describing it as “very confusing” and said he would not be contacting the NRL during the week for an explanation.
“It’s not worth it,” he said. “Waste of time.”
One journalist then tried to suggest to Ryles that the Eels may regularly be on the wrong end of 50-50 calls because of their lowly ladder position. But the Parramatta coach quickly shot down that claim.
“You’re trying to bait me. It’s got nothing to do with that,” he laughed.
While Ryles was adamant Isaako’s try should not have been awarded, the vast majority of the Fox League panel agreed with the Bunker’s decision.
“When I first saw it live I thought he had lost the ball and I can see Jason’s frustration in the sense that they went up no try but I thought from where we were sitting and completely unattached to both sides, there was an angle that showed his hand never came away from the ball and he got the ball down, so I was okay with the decision,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League’s Friday Night Footy.
When a journalist first brought up the decision to Ryles they did so by comparing it to Harry Grant’s no-try in the loss to Penrith, which drew the ire of the Storm skipper.
Braith Anasta, however, said the Isaako incident was “different”.
“The ball came away when Harry tried to get the ball down and touched the opposition player. I don’t think you can compare the two,” he added.
Newly unveiled St Helens coach Kevin Walters was the only member of the panel to side with Ryles, with Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards also agreeing with Ennis and Anasta.
“I initially thought it was no try but then that replay that showed I didn’t think the hand came away from the ball as it touched the ground,” Edwards said.
“Those are the ones that can go either way.”