Brisbane young gun Herbie Farnworth was the beneficiary of a controversial penalty try in what was a rare bright moment for them in Sunday’s game.
The Bunker awarded Farnworth the try after it was deemed Kyle Feldt took the centre out in the in-goal, and the Broncos centre would have reached the loose ball in time.
A chaotic and slow Bunker review took its time to first determine whether Kurt Capewell was on-side after he soccered Albert Kelly’s mistimed grubber into the in-goal.
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After Capewell was cleared, the Bunker then determined Farnworth was also on-side, with replays making for a tough judgement.
Farnworth was given the try despite being at least five metres away from the ball when he was tackled, and two North Queensland defenders being closer to the ball.
“Tough going for the Cowboys, I thought on the replay, both (defending) players were in front of the kicker before it got to the foot. But that is not the case,” Johnathan Thurston said in commentary for Nine.
NRL legend Cameron Smith was not so sure Farnworth would have made it to the ball to score.
“They’ve ruled on Kyle Feldt [not getting to the ball first], but what about the other two Cowboys players? Were they a chance?” Cameron Smith said in commentary for Nine.
Luckily it didn’t matter in the end, as the Cowboys ran away with the scoreboard.
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