‘Changed the game’: NRL erupts over obstruction controversy

Commentators have been left to call for common sense once again after the Cowboys were brutally denied a try at a key moment.

What is the NRL thinking. PHoto: Fox Sports

NRL fans and commentators have been left stunned by a moment which has seemingly cost the North Queensland Cowboys the shot at a win.

The Sharks claimed a 26-12 win in North Queensland but a controversial moment changed the game after a 12-point swing in just two minutes.

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The Sharks led 14-12 at the break and it was still the scoreline after 59 minutes when a dramatic two minutes flipped the game on its head.

North Queensland skipper Jason Taumalolo burst through the line after a slick step, barging over Sharks fullback Will Kennedy for a barnstorming try that would have given the second-placed Cowboys the lead.

However, as with most calls in rugby league in 2022, the call was questioned over a line-ball decision.

As Taumalolo burst through the line, Cowboys hooker Reece Robson ran up in support, only stepping ahead of his captain when he was hit by Kennedy.

But as Taumalolo dived over the line, Robson was right in the way of Braden Hamlin-Uele and Toby Rudolf, who would barely have been able to reach the Cowboys forward before he planted the ball.

“Is Robson entitled to be there?” Queensland great Brent Tate said on Fox League. “He’s playing as a support runner, he’s not in front of Taumalolo.”

Robson took a step past Taumalolo. Photo: Fox Sports

Hamlin-Uele and Rudolf claimed the penalty. Photo: Fox Sports

The angle behind Robson. Photo: Fox Sports

Steve Roach said he believed it was obstruction, even though he believed the cover defenders would have stopped the try.

Brenton Speed argued: “He’s there in support of Taumalolo in case he needs him — then you want him to disappear so Hamlin-Uele can make the tackle.”

“I don’t really agree with it, but that is the rule,” Roach said. “He couldn’t make an attempt — I don’t think he would have stopped him.”

“Blocker it is a ridiculous rule, I just don’t understand that when we talk about the feel of the game and letting the game flow, that’s just a really silly decision,” Tate said. “We talk about common sense in the box, there is no common sense in that rule.”

Speed said it was only the momentum that took Robson past Taumalolo, adding: “That will be debated for the next week”.

The next set, the Sharks rubbed salt into the would, as Cowboys’ five-eighth Ben Hampton fumbled a grubber for Teig Wilton.

“What a turning point, sliding doors moment in this game,” Speed said. “The Cowboys denied a try at one end, handed one at the other.”

After the match, Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he didn’t like the look of the penalty.

“A couple of those big moments went against us no doubt, that one hurts, and they go down and score a try that should have been stopped,” Payten said in the post-match press conference.

“The game is in the balance, I don’t like it purely because it rewards the player for having a play off, and then the fact that he intentionally runs up the back of support play.

“I don’t know how he is going to stop Jason either, he would have pushed him further into the in-goal.”

Taumalolo didn’t know what the officials wanted Robson to do.

“Robbo (Robson) was supporting me and he was obviously there and what is he meant to do, he can’t disappear and make way for him,” Taumalolo said.

“He was there for the support in case I passed it.”

The Sharks were happy. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

But fans were fuming over the denied try.

AAP’s Fraser Barton wrote: “Bunker has lost the plot with Taumalolo try. No way in hell Hamlin-Uele would’ve stopped him from that position.”

Broadcaster Ryan Phelan posted: “That is a classic Jason Taumalolo try!! … oh wait a minute”.

ABC’s Michael Rennie added: “No one was stopping JT that close to the line. Ridiculous call”.

BBC’s Tuslen Tollett tweeted: “I truly despair what Rugby League rules have now become”.

Former NRL star Jamie Soward opined: “Now that call up the other end has completely changed this game.”

NRL supremo Phil Gould called it a “disgraceful call”.

The 12-point swing saw the Sharks take a 20-12 lead, before Sione Katoa raced away for a long distance try from a scrum to wrap the game up.

The Sharks have now won five straight games and moved equal with the Cowboys on 26 competition points.