Queensland legend Cameron Smith has called on the NRL to conduct a “serious review” of the $22 million Bunker and consider scrapping it altogether after controversy in the State of Origin decider. The NRL has admitted a crucial try to Bradman Best in NSW’s 30-12 victory on Wednesday night shouldn’t have stood after a knock-on from Jack Bostock was missed.
The Blues were only up 18-8 when Best scooped up a loose ball and ran 100m to score. But replays have since shown the ball hit Bostock’s fingers and travelled forward, which should have constituted a knock-on.
Cameron Smith wants a ‘serious review’ after Queensland were dudded. Image: Getty
The Bunker didn’t see enough clear evidence to overturn the on-field decision of try, but the NRL has since admitted the call ‘appeared’ to be wrong. “After reviewing all available angles, the Bunker did not believe there was sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision,” a statement from the NRL said on Wednesday night.
“Upon detailed review after the match, the NRL believes that while it was an extremely tight decision, the ball appeared to be touched.”
The try gave NSW a 24-8 lead and buried Queensland when they were mounting a comeback. Smith was in shock in commentary that the Bunker didn’t see Bostock’s knock-on, and after the game he called for an urgent review.
Jack Bostock’s fingers bent back after he touched the ball. Image: Channel 9
“If that’s touched his hand and it’s proved to have touched it, we need a serious review of the Bunker,” the former Queensland captain said on Channel 9. “I’m disappointed that Queensland lost. Would that have changed the result? Probably not. But it was at a pretty crucial point in the game.
“For the sake of the game, and I mean the NRL, the sport in general, I hope he hasn’t touched it. I really hope he hasn’t, but if he has, we need to sit down as a sport and make a decision on where we head with this Bunker.
“We spent a lot of money on it. We put trust in people to sit in there and make the right decision. If we’re not going to make the right decision in the big games, in the big moments, flick it.”
Andrew Johns said he thought Bostock touched the ball, but doesn’t want to see slow-mo replays deciding every line-ball call. “Show it in real time, and if it looks like a try, get on with it,” Johns said. “But when I look at it, it does look like it gets a touch.”