'They can't do this': Shaun Johnson, Mitchell Moses fume as Eels hit with penalty for airborne contest
The use of slow motion in the Bunker has been slammed by Shaun Johnson after a review of an airborne contest resulted in a bizarre penalty against the Eels.
Bailey Simonsson was the man to be pinged by the Bunker for a tackling attempt in the air on Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo.
The pair both leapt to compete for a kick in the air close to the line when Mulitalo twisted over his rival backwards in hopes of grounding the ball.
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The sensational effort by the Sharks winger immediately sparked celebrations on the field, although Mulitalo was not convinced that he had grounded the ball.
"As long as he can get a hand on the ball, he can put it down anywhere," Cooper Cronk said on Fox League.
"How good is that?" Johnson added.
Ronaldo Mulitalo attempts to score a try against the Parramatta Eels. Getty
An on-field decision of no try was called by referee Peter Gough, who asked for a review of the grounding of the ball.
A replay of the try-scoring act indicated that the ball had fall short of the line and dropped out of Mulitalo's hand.
But in a bizarre turn of events, a penalty was awarded to the Sharks as the Bunker had ruled Simonsson had attempted to tackle Mulitalo in the air.
"They can't do this," Johnson said.
"It happens so fast, stop watching in slow motion."
Mitchell Moses fumes as his player is penalised for a try-saving tackle. Fox Footy
The recently retired Warriors star went on to question how a penalty try was not awarded if the act was deemed a tackle in the air.
Chris Butler, the senior official in the Bunker, stated that a penalty try was ruled out "due to the fact Ronaldo had too much room to get the ball to the ground."
Mitchell Moses was heard pleading with referee Gough as an explanation for the penalty was explained to those on the field.
"What do you want him to do but?" Moses was heard saying as Gough indicated Simonsson had grabbed his opponent's arm in the air.
"He's gone up and back to him. Where do you want him to go?"
"I can't answer that question for you now," Gough replied.
"I understand that you don't agree, that's the decision. I'm just letting you know."
Eels coach Jason Ryles and Mitchell Moses speak to the media post-match. Fox League
When asked about the situation post-match, Eels coach Jason Ryles joked that he doesn't "have enough money to give you my honest opinion."
"I'll have to get a loan off Mitch," he laughed.
"I've worked for a coach and watched other people spend lots of time on that and I just think it's a waste of time.
"At the end of the day you need to get your own backyard right and what we can control.
"They're human and it is what it is. We need to take it out of their hands and that's the way I coach the players. It's us, it's not about the referee.
"Unfortunately the decisions didn't go our way tonight but if we keep doing what we're doing in regard to our fight and effort, it'll turn.
"Sometimes you've got to cross your fingers but that's life, it's just part of the game."
