‘I cannot believe that’: Souths penalty try controversy divides NRL

South Sydney’s five-game winning streak has come to an end but not before a slice of luck left the NRL world divided.

South Sydney’s five-match winning streak has come to and end in a high-scoring 36-28 loss to the Dolphins at Kayo Stadium on Thursday night.

But fans had their eyebrows raised early in the match when the Rabbitohs were awarded a controversial penalty try.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Just over 10 minutes into the match, the Dolphins were already holding a 6-0 lead when the Rabbitohs tried their hand on the last tackle.

After going wide, Alex Johnston brought the ball back into the middle before passing to Jai Arrow, who offloaded to Jye Gray’s feet with the Rabbitohs fullback kicking forward for himself.

The only problem for Gray was that he butchered the put down.

But quickly the play came under the microscope.

Although some fans questioned if Johnston had benefited from an obstruction or two, it wasn’t looked at as the focus was on Gray’s put down and the effort from Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller, who interfered with Gray as he ran through.

On Fox League, Michael Ennis praised the “crafty bit of work”, but questioned whether Fuller’s effort was enough to disadvantage Gray.

“He still gets to the ball so I’m not sure he’s disadvantaged Gray,” Ennis said.

“That might sound crazy but I don’t think that’s the reason he doesn’t score.”

Warren Smith said that Gray would have had a “different play at the ball”.

Smith appeared to be angling towards a professional foul and a penalty, but Bunker official Liam Kennedy awarded a penalty try with no other players around the ball.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Smith said, arguing that if he had a cleaner run on the ball that he may have had a better put down.

Ennis added: “I think a bit of luck going the way of South Sydney. I think he had ample time to get the ball down.”

Was this enough for a penalty try? Photo: Fox Sports

Gray completely butchered the put down. Photo: Fox Sports

He also pointed to the fact Johnston was lucky not to be called for an obstruction.

At halftime, but Broncos great Corey Parker said he understood the decision, adding it had been “consistent”.

Greg Alexander said it was “minimal contact” from Fuller, calling it “a tough one against the Dolphins”.

But on ABC Sport, Quentin Hull blasted the call.

“Oh wow … I cannot believe that,” he said. “A player fumbles the ball in the in-goal area after running through the infringement and a drop ball results in a penalty try? Is that what rugby league in 2024 is? Apparently yes.

“If that happens to a guy in blue at the cauldron at the back end of the decider on Wednesday, the refs will need security guards by the dozen to get out of the joint.”

Rugby league reporter for the Western Weekender Lachlan Jeffrey wrote: “I tell you what, I’d have had no issue if they’d ruled that a knock on instead of a penalty.”

Newswire’s Martin Gabor suggested: “Hate the decision because there were three obstructions in that play, but the Bunker had to give it based on the Luke Keary penalty try earlier in the year.”

Another fan commented: “Had to be a penalty try. If he didn’t make it at all, it would have been a penalty try. He shouldn’t be disadvantaged because he made it there and then we saw what actually happened. Once the interference happened, what happened next is compromise.”

Another said: “PENALTY TRY!!!!!! Bunker is kidding.”

Another posted: “Let’s just ignore Alex Johnston running behind his own player, but apparently even if you knock on it’s a penalty try. This game is dumb.”

Another wrote: “Penalty try? Refs has lost the plot.”

Big win for the Dolphins. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Despite the decision, the Dolphins led 18-10 and extended the lead to 24-10 before the Bunnies launched a comeback.

Two tries in six minutes cut the score to 24-18 but the Dolphins kicked away again after Sean O’Sullivan and Fuller scored two tries in two minutes to put the game almost beyond doubt.

Two more tries to the Rabbitohs cut the scoreline but the goalkicking proved the difference.

Although both sides scored six tries each, Jamayne Issako slotted all six conversions for the Dolphins while Cody Walker and Taane Milne each only slotted one from three.

Originally published as ‘I cannot believe that’: Souths penalty try controversy divides NRL