Rugby league great Brad Fittler has tipped another NRL bunker official to cop the sack after South Sydney centre Campbell Graham was awarded a controversial try despite an illegal push.
During the first half of South Sydney’s win over St George Illawarra, Rabbitohs five-eighth Benji Marshall put up a high ball, which Campbell pounced on once the footy was loose in the in-goal area, before crossing for his side’s third try of the game.
The four-pointer, which was awarded by veteran referee Matt Cecchin in his final game, wasn’t held up by the bunker for a review despite replays showing an obvious push by Graham on Dragons winger Mathew Feagai.
Graham’s push sent Feagai crashing into Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan as the youngster tried to catch the ball, only to be put off by his teammate plunging into him.
The Rabbitohs try ruling left Fittler staggered in Nine’s commentary.
“If anything I think’s it dangerous … (Graham) is lucky something more sinister didn’t happen out of that,” Fittler said.
“I can’t believe they didn’t see that and change the ruling. That’s ridiculous. Someone else is going to miss a job next week.”
Fittler’s suggestion that tonight’s bunker official – referee Chris Butler – could be sacked follows the axing of Henry Perenara over his highly criticised handling of Latrell Mitchell’s hit on Joseph Manu last week.
“That should have been a penalty,” said Broncos great Darren Lockyer of Graham’s push on Feagai.
“He pushed him in the back. It wasn’t much of a push, but to me, that constitutes a penalty.
“The Dragons have been making some basic errors, which are inviting the Rabbits to the try line.
“But that should have been a penalty.”
– Additional reporting with Marc Churches
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