NRL world divided by controversial try in fiery Bulldogs vs Dragons clash
The NRL bunker has once again found itself in the spotlight after a controversial try was awarded that divided those watching on.
NRL
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The Canterbury Bulldogs have held off the St George Illawarra Dragons to record the 28-20 victory on Saturday night.
The win however didn’t come without a controversial moment that unfolded in the early stages of the clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.
After the Bulldogs got the scoreboard started with the opening try of the round one contest through Marcelo Montoya, the Dragons hit back only minutes later.
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Christian Tuipulotu found himself on the end of a brilliant passage of play as he slid over the line in the far corner.
The celebrations kicked off immediately before replays appeared to show Tuipulotu had lost control of the ball before grounding it.
“Oh boy, hold on,” Michael Ennis said when looking at the replay.
“The knees of Crichton and I think he’s dropped it. I don’t think he has got this down.”
Watch the divisive moment in the video player above
After sending it upstairs, it became clear the ball had become dislodged however it was ruled that Crichton had committed a foul by sliding in knees first.
“Stephen Crichton makes dangerous contact with Christian Tuipulotu who loses the ball, in our opinion without the foul play the try would have been scored. We have a decision,” the bunker ruled.
After the try was awarded, Crichton was placed on report by the referee before Tuipulotu delivered a fiery spray to the Dogs skipper.
“The kick will be from in front, but Stephen Crichton contact with the head,” commentator Dan Ginnane said.
“And Christian Tuipulotu lets him know about it. There is some spice here. There is some real spice at Kogarah.”
The controversial moment sent the NRL community into a spin with fans divided over Crichton’s attempt to stop the try.
Buzz Rothfield wrote on X: “I thought knees to the head was a sin bin offence.”
Former NRL player Jamie Soward wrote: “Crichton going full speed to save a try and gets called for that. We are making it up. I can’t believe that.”
Jerry Massey added: “How is that a try? The runner clearly has the ball knocked out before he scores. And why was the conversion straight in front while the try was scored along the sideline? That made no sense.”
Another wrote: “The fact Crichton wasn’t sin binned for that is an encouraging sign … the overuse of the sin bin in recent years has been ridiculous.”
Crichton wasn’t the only man placed in the book with Dogs star Jacob Preston also placed on report for delivering a late hit on Val Holmes.
Both men will anxiously wait to see if they will cop suspensions over the incidents.
After racing out to a 28-6 lead, the Dragons came storming home and appeared on track to steal the win.
Two more Tuipoitlieue tries and an individual piece of brilliance of Jacob Liddle saw the margin close to eight points with under 10 minutes to go.
Holmes’ kick however missed the mark and all but closed the door on the Dragons’ hopes as the Dogs held on to collect the points.
Originally published as NRL world divided by controversial try in fiery Bulldogs vs Dragons clash
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