Melbourne Storm’s ‘stunning’ penalty try controversy rocks NRL Grand Final
Melbourne hit the scoreboard first in the most controversial fashion possible as the Panthers argued against a Grand Final injustice.
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The 2020 Grand Final saw a stunning start with a penalty try awarded just four minutes into the game as the Melbourne Storm drew first blood before going on to beat Penrith 26-20.
Getting the ball in good field position after a Panthers mistake, the Storm went wide.
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Winger Josh Addo-Carr was tackled but passed the ball back on the inside to his centre Justin Olam who dived for the corner — but referee Gerard Sutton sent the call up as a no try.
The bunker checked the sideline and then saw the ball dislodged by the knee of Panther Tyrone May, who kicked out with his leg in an effort to stop the try.
The more the bunker official Steve Chiddy looked at the play, the more the commentators on Channel 9 started to point to it being a potential penalty try.
It is illegal for a defender to kick the ball out of a rival’s grasp with their feet because it is deemed dangerous play.
The bunker sent it back as a penalty try — the first penalty try in a Grand Final since 2013
“Tyrone May has used the foot to kick the ball out of the possession of Justin Olam. In our opinion, we believe a try would have been scored,” Chiddy said.
The Panthers immediately protested with captain James Tamou told by Sutton “He can’t kick at it with a foot, mate. He believes he kicks at the ball.”
Gould called the decision “incredible”, clearly disagreeing with the call.
“I don’t know what Tyrone May could have done any differently there,” Gould said.
“It is not what I would call indiscriminate kicking but the referee ruled he’s played at the ball with his foot.
“That is a stunning start to this game. Stunning.”
But while social media was somewhat divided, the main sentiment was that it was a good call.
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Penalty try!!! Correct call. #NRL #nrlgf
— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) October 25, 2020
Absolutely right call. Had to be a penalty try. You can’t kick at the ball. #nrl
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) October 25, 2020
GTFO that was a penalty try. He dived at the leg and the player had zero option from where he was situated. He couldn’t even pull out of it @NRL #NRL
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) October 25, 2020
As a @NRL_Dragons supporter I am well accustomed to the Melbourne @storm winning grand finals through dubious penalty tries but I think that was the right call! #NRL
— Taylor Auerbach (@tauerbach) October 25, 2020
The news went from bad to worse for Panthers, who went to hit straight back.
The Panthers were pushing hard towards the Storm line when it appeared Josh Mansour went over in the corner.
But it was called back when Stephen Crichton was called for an obstruction.
Josh Mansour goes flying in at the corner - but it's called back for obstruction
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) October 25, 2020
ðŸ“#NRLGF Live Blog 👉 https://t.co/038E4B3tfz pic.twitter.com/OhHTLJRxt2
7mins in and this shit is a stitch up #NRL #NRLGF
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) October 25, 2020
Stephen Crichton costing Panthers some points early in #NRLGF
— Benjamin Cooper (@coopsyb) October 25, 2020
As the game went on, nothing appeared to be going the Panthers’ way with the Storm rolling on to a 22-0 lead at the break.
Originally published as Melbourne Storm’s ‘stunning’ penalty try controversy rocks NRL Grand Final