'As obvious as it gets': Andrew Johns fumes after Cowboys awarded controversial try
Knights icon Andrew Johns has been left fuming after the Cowboys were awarded a try despite a possible obstruction in the lead-up to the play. Newcastle went on to lose 38-4.
Leading 20-0 in the second half, the Cowboys set up to attack on halfway.
The ball moved through the hands before Jake Clifford passed to Scott Drinkwater, with Jeremiah Nanai hitting the outside shoulder of Jake Arthur as a decoy.
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The referee ruled Arthur had made a defensive decision and awarded a try.
Jeremiah Nanai runs to the outside shoulder of Jake Arthur. Nine
But Andrew Johns thought the Bunker would rule differently.
"I think this was an obstruction for sure," he said on Nine.
However, the Bunker awarded it, with the Cowboys extending their lead.
"What they're doing is they're trying to think, 'What's the defender thinking?'," Billy Slater said.
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Dane Gagai was then seen arguing with the referee and was told the ruling was based on Arthur defending the man, and that is why the overlap occurred.
Slater said, "It's irrelevant.
"You've taken that chance away from him."
Johns then stated Arthur's eyes were looking inside, not knowing where Nanai was.
"That's an obstruction," he said.
"... they need a former player or old coach or someone who understands defensive movements and what defenders are trying to do, but also what attackers are trying to do.
"That was as obvious as it gets."
The Cowboys had dominated the first half with tries to Scott Drinkwater, Tom Dearden and Braidon Burns, along with a penalty goal.
Purdue's try was the first of the second half before the Knights were finally on the board through Dom Young.
North Queensland dominated the latter stages, though, as Nanai and Drinkwater scored the final tries to seal a 38-4 victory.
