NRL Grand Final | Fans react to bizarre trainer controversy

A bizarre moment involving a trainer on the only minutes into the blockbuster NRL Grand Final has left a host of fans absolutely fuming.

Roosters' Sam Verrills scores a try during the 2019 NRL Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders at ANZ Stadium on 6 October, 2019 in Sydney. Picture. Phil Hillyard

NRL fans have been left fuming over arguably the most controversial Grand Final of all time on Sunday night when the Sydney Roosters defeated the Canberra Raiders.

Most of the attention has focused on the decision in the dying minutes of the contest when referee Ben Cummins appeared to call six again with Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton with the ball before sticking his arm in the air to signal it was the last tackle.

READ: Ref howler sparks Grand Final meltdown

Sadly it wasn’t the only moment of controversy from the biggest game of the NRL season that has overshadowed what was an enthralling contest.

Only minutes into the contest was when the chaos kicked off with a Roosters trainer in the thick of the action after being hit with the ball.

A charge-down from Raiders star Sia Soliola saw a kick from Luke Keary ricochet into an unidentified Sydney trainer jogging behind the backline.

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Incredibly, the Roosters not only weren’t penalised they were awarded the scrum feed deep into Raiders territory.

It was all the favourites needed to send young hooker Sam Verrills over for a try to take them to a cool 6-0 lead before the visitors could scratch their heads.

Verrills scores the opening try of the NRL Grand Final.

NRL greats Phil Gould and Andrew Johns sat bemused by the incident, which generated a storm of controversy on social media.

“This could have been a huge advantage to the Raiders, but it will be an attacking scrum to the Roosters,” Gould said on Channel 9’s coverage.

“It hits the trainer right in the head.”

“And have a look at Whitehead he is away there,” Andrew Johns added.

“Whitehead could have scored there.”

Fans on Twitter were furious, labelling the officiating of the sport’s biggest match of the year a “joke”.

That’s a joke. When a trainer lurking on the field gets hit by the ball that team should cop a penalty, not get the feed in the scrum...much less given that it cost the Raiders a try ffs

— Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) October 6, 2019

The entire trajectory of this game has changed because the ball hit the trainer. And they get the scrum feed? There needs to be a limit to the number of times trainers can come on, screaming instructions! #NRLGF

— Leonie Ryan (@LeonieFRyan) October 6, 2019

And once again the @NRL is a joke - the @RaidersCanberra robbed of possession and forced to defend their line because an official got in the way and they have the #roosters the ball back. The code is a joke #NRLGrandFinal

— Paul Johnson (@pjohnson_sports) October 6, 2019

On a train in Italy trying to work out what on earth has happened in the #NRLGF. A Roosters trainer was on the field and then? Can anyone clue me in, please?

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 6, 2019

According to the NRL rules: “Where play is irregularly affected in the field of play, the referee shall restart play with a scrum with the attacking team to receive the loose head and feed.”

Originally published as NRL Grand Final | Fans react to bizarre trainer controversy