Bobbling bungle over Daly Cherry-Evans try yet another controversy corner contender

NOT even Daly Cherry-Evans thought he had scored the try.

NOT even Daly Cherry-Evans thought he had scored the try.

Another week in the NRL brought a fresh refereeing controversy Monday night with Sea Eagles halfback Cherry-Evans awarded a four-pointer he thought he had butchered.

As Manly trailed 12-0, Cherry-Evans spotted open space and charged towards the tryline, only to appear to bobble the ball as his body slammed into the right upright.

Replays showed the Manly No.7 was brought down from behind by Gareth Widdop, then had the ball punched out by Storm back-rower Ryan Hoffman.

Hoffman had only a few minutes earlier saved another Manly try by holding Brett Stewart up over the line.

Video referee Paul Simpkins was satisfied Cherry-Evans had grounded the ball with his second grab.

Angry Storm players immediately made a beeline for referee Tony Archer. Fellow whistleblower Jared Maxwell predicted the ambush and said via the on-field microphone: "You might have to explain this one, Arch."

Hoffman was so confident he had prevented Manly scoring their first points for the night, he was gobsmacked when they actually sent the decision upstairs. He said it quickly brought back memories of the spectacular Greg Inglis try scored in similar circumstances in Origin I.

"While they were looking at it, 'Smithy' (Cameron Smith) said to me, 'remember Origin, they're going to give this'," Hoffman said.

"I thought, 'geez, he's right'. So I wasn't surprised in the end. The precedent has been set, and at least the referees are consistent, and that's all you can ask for."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was not as forgiving, saying: "I think the look on Daly's face told the story afterwards. They (referees) have got a tough job at times, and they're open to criticism, but I couldn't see how that was a try."

Manly coach Geoff Toovey said the Cherry-Evans try deserved benefit of the doubt, but took aim at a few other refereeing blunders, including Dean Whare being held back when winger Jorge Taufua made a break downfield when the Sea Eagles were desperate to save the game late in the second half.

Toovey also could not understand why co-captain Jason King was placed on report for a high shot on Todd Lowrie, or how the Storm were awarded a penalty when Hoffman had appeared to slip over on another occasion.

"The match was in the balance and we're down, we make a big break and a bloke is pulled back, but nobody notices," Toovey said.

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