NRL head of football – elite competitions, Graham Annesley, has admitted to a blunder in Manly’s win over the Dragons.
NSW Origin second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu went over to score in the 25th minute for Manly to close in on their rival’s lead.
After scoring the try, Olakau’atu notably looked guilty towards the referee after Ben Trbojevic made contact with the outside shoulder of Kyle Flanagan during the lead-up.
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Flanagan did get to the tryscorer, but wasn’t able to prevent him from scoring.
“Kyle Flanagan is just too honest there, had he fallen over there’s no doubt that’d be called obstruction … that’s a huge surprise that try stands,” commentator Warren Smith said on Fox League.
Flanagan, Jacob Liddle and Luciano Leilua noticeably protested with the referee but the Bunker confirmed the try without giving it a lengthy look.
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Annesley has since confirmed it was the wrong call.
”Not only had he (Trbojevic) made contact with the outside shoulder of Kyle Flanagan, but he also stopped in the line,” he said on Monday.
“He hasn’t prevented Kyle from getting there but there’s definitely an impact on how he got there and whether he could have been in a better position to prevent that try.
“The Bunker decisions on obstruction are controversial at times, we’re the first to admit that, we do go through and have a look at a lot of these and they often divide opinion.
“Admittedly we’ve looked at it with much more time than the Bunker had to look at this, but that doesn’t take away our view based on the way we have ruled on these in previous cases, that try should’ve been overturned and not upheld.”
Manly went on to win the game 30-14 after a second-half masterclass from halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans.