Bunker confusion as dubious Panthers try ‘fails the pub test’
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Penrith were awarded a controversial try in their dominant 42-18 win over the Raiders in a moment that had the commentators scratching their heads.
In a rematch from last year’s famous “Miracle in Mudgee” between the two NRL rivals, it was Canberra who struck first through Matt Timoko - but from there it was one-way traffic as the Panthers flexed their premiership muscle.
Matt Timoko on his way to the line. Getty Images
“You just don’t see tries that easy,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League commentary, while Michael Ennis described it as “alarming” for the Panthers.
The ladder-leaders hit back when Nathan Cleary raced into open space and linked up with back-rower Liam Martin for a try.
Martin bagged a double mid-way through the opening half, but it came after a ridiculously long Bunker review that had everyone confused.
After a deft grubber kick from five-eighth Jack Cogger landed perfectly in the in-goal area, Paul Alamoti chased through but appeared to have knocked it on before Martin dived on the loose ball and celebrated a potential try.
“He misses it Alamoti … or does it go knee into forearm? I think it might touch the leg back into the arm. I’m not sure,” Ennis said on commentary.
It was sent up as a no try by referee Adam Gee, but after multiple minutes and replays, Bunker official Ashley Klein deemed there was no touch from Alamoti’s hand or forearm and overturned the on-field decision.
“They’ve had multiple looks at it,” Voss said.
“It fails the pub test somewhat, that you can be so unsure about it that you’ve gotta have seven looks and then on the seventh, it’s conclusive.”
Casey McLean kept the momentum rolling when he put Tom Jenkins over for his 27th try of the season, before the in-form winger made it a double as well.
Rookie fullback Jaxen Edgar made it a 30-6 lead right before half time for Penrith and in the second half, it remained a largely clinical performance as tries from key forwards Liam Henry and Isaiah Papali’i put the result beyond doubt.
