'Let it happen': Gus backs Bennett's spray after 'wrong' call shattered Dolphins' finals hopes
Phil Gould has backed Wayne Bennett's calls for the NRL to abandon the Bunker as fears arise that poor decisions will derail a team's finals campaign.
Bennett's renewed spray at the video referee system was probed after the Dolphins' season-ending 14-6 defeat to the Knights on Sunday.
Trai Fuller appeared to have darted over the line for the first try of the afternoon when he was denied by the Bunker, who ruled Connelly Lemuelu had obstructed Jack Cogger.
READ MORE: Calls for Kyrgios to be axed over deleted tweet
READ MORE: Tom Brady's awkward start to new $560m job
READ MORE: Raiders cult hero's sensational backflip revealed
The denied four points left Nine's commentary team fuming, as Newcastle hit back to score the next two tries and shatter the Dolphins' hopes of a maiden finals campaign under their outgoing coach.
"The decision was wrong," Gould said on Nine's 100% Footy.
"The decision shows little to no understanding of (the rule).
"The referees and Bunker description of plays and penalties like this is the complete opposition to how coaches, footballers, and fans view the game. That's where it gets very, very frustrating.
"That is just a wrong call. It is a bad call.
"If in the heat of battle they think that is an obstruction then they surely know nothing about what an obstruction really is."
Trai Fuller scores a try but is denied by the Bunker. Nine
Paul Gallen questioned the consistency and knowledge of the game by officials operating the Bunker, declaring had the match been for the premiership trophy the decision may have been different.
"Do they know what the lead runner is trying to do there?" Gallen said.
"Surely the Bunker knows what we are talking about."
Gould interjected, "but they don't."
"What if that was a grand final, that would be a try," Gallen continued.
"It's ridiculous."
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
The Bulldogs general manager remained unsure how consistent the game's $3.2 million system could become, declaring on field referees need to allow play to happen.
"Everyone wants a black and white interpretation [of the rules] because they are after consistency, which doesn't exist in our game," he said.
"Our game is not perfect, nor should it be.
"The current interpretation [for plays like Fuller's] from the referees is to penalise.
"Nothing will come of (calls for change) because the referees and the Bunker are running their own race, and there is no one to pull them up.
"The only game in the top eight that meant losers leaves the country was that game and all of a sudden we got that semi final type feel, 14-6, knock down, drag them out.
"I think as the games get more desperate, we will see more games get like that if the referees let it happen.
"If the referees get out of the way, keep the whistle in their pocket. I can't think there is any guarantee of that but that's just how it is.
"But that try was not an obstruction."