The Warriors fell eight points short of a big round six upset, falling 22-14 to the Roosters at the SCG.
But the result could have been much different if not for a bizarre Bunker decision during the second half, which effectively resulted in a 12-point swing.
Livewire Warriors fullback Reece Walsh carried the ball to the line, but was tackled by Fletcher Baker before he could ground it.
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It appeared Baker stripped the ball out of the carrier’s hands, meaning play-on, and then the loose ball was dived on by Warriors centre Jesse Arthars.
The referee sent the decision upstairs.
The Bunker, though, judged Baker did not strip the ball, rather that Walsh had lost it in the field of play.
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“Geez, I thought the ball was stripped there by Fletcher Baker,” league legend Steve Roach said on Fox League.
“It was stripped out of his hands, which went backwards. They’re unlucky not to get a try there.”
Fellow commentator Brenton Speed agreed.
“There will be Warriors fans screaming at their TV,” he said.
The decision was compounded when soon after the Roosters scored to hit the lead for the first time in the game.
The Chooks got the job done in front of members of their 2002 premiership winning team, which was celebrating the anniversary of its triumph.
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