The Cronulla Sharks have cruised to an easy win over the Newcastle Knights despite having a try controversially denied by the Bunker.
The Sharks ran out 18-0 winners at PointsBet Stadium, but the result came after the Bunker denied the Sharks a try 32 minutes into the contest, after centre Siosifa Talakai stormed onto a gorgeous Matt Moylan offload and crossed for a disallowed four-pointer.
Will Kennedy had run behind hooker Cameron McInnes and, in doing so, the Bunker deemed the fullback had obstructed Jacob Saifiti.
READ MORE: Latest curveball to hit Sydney rugby crown jewel
READ MORE: NSW’s huge boost in hunt for Super Rugby finals
READ MORE: Storm lock in star trio on new deals
The Knights prop wasn’t impeded even in the slightest of ways, but the Bunker was obligated to disallow the try based on obstruction due to its black-and-white stance.
“I reckon you’ve got to think about whether the bloke’s a front-rower or fullback (and if he’s) going to chase him and catch him,” said Balmain great Steve Roach on Fox League.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
“I don’t think he would have. It’s common sense.”
“I don’t think his run was checked one bit, to be honest,” Roach’s co-commentator, Andrew Voss, added.
“We do have to decide (if) we want black and white or if we want some sort of subjectivity. Every common sense there says no interference at all.”
It’s a rejuvenated Moylan pairing up with prized recruit Nicho Hynes in 2022 – and the former State of Origin gun’s brilliance was on show moments after the obstruction.
Taking a scoot down the left edge, Moylan threw a dummy and found Talakai on his inside with a beautiful offload, as his teammate raced away.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!