’Deadset disgrace’: Commentators and fans question sanity over ‘blatant off-side’

NRL commentators and fans alike have been left questioning their sanity after the bunker failed to intervene after an “alarming” passage of play.

Latrell and Cody were both in front of the kick. Photo: Fox Sports

NRL commentators and fans have been left absolutely stunned after South Sydney scored a try despite both Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker being well off-side.

Souths claimed a 26-14 win over the Dragons but in the 52nd minute with the Rabbitohs leading 14-10, Souths halfback Lachlan Ilias put up a bomb, with Mitchell taking a great grab before offloading on his way to the ground and sending Cody Walker over under the posts.

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After a messy start to the game which saw the Rabbitohs commit seven first half errors, it looked like the finals contenders had finally clicked into gear.

But there was more than a few question marks over the chase with Mitchell and Walker seemingly both well in front of Ilias.

It was a brilliant play but the bunker should have immediately picked it up.

In commentary for Fox Sports, Andrew Voss picked up that some of the players were in front of the kicker but didn’t realise initially that Mitchell and Walker were in that group.

“I think Mitchell’s off-side,” Voss said upon replay.

“He is off-side, yes,” Greg Alexander replied. “You’ve got to have both feet behind the kicker.”

It's hard to see how these guys weren't off-side. Photo: Fox Sports

“In fact, Campbell Graham is probably the only player onside from the kick,” Voss said.

“Now we’ve used the expression attention to detail, South Sydney’s lack of it today is alarming. That's hopeless, that is hopeless. You can’t put a bomb up and have all but one player off-side.”

“This won’t be a try,” Alexander said.

So they were both shocked when the call came back from the bunker that it was “Try confirmed”.

“Is that right?” Alexander said. “You’ve got to have both feet behind the ball.”

Voss agreed: “That’s unbelievable. We’re in an age where you can’t rule on forward pass but we come back with that decision there where to the naked eye all but one player is off-side. That’s amazing. Rugby league, you’re a beautiful thing but gee you’re confusing.”

Voss challenged Souths fans to argue that it should have been a try, with Alexander framing it: “Are both feet behind the ball? No.”

“Cody Walker, he doesn’t for mine,” Voss added.

Fans were stunned on social media.

I love Souths, I love Latrell, but that is the most baffling non-intervention from The Bunker I've ever seen. What on earth has happened there? He's ten metres offside #NRLSouthsDragons

— Matt Bungard (@TheMattBungard) August 12, 2023

Trell doesn't have both feet behind the ball. Howler. #NRLSouthsDragons

— Smokey Johansson (@smokeyjoh) August 12, 2023

NRL: Mitchell blatant offside!! #NRLSouthsDragons and its confirmed ! ..either blatant cheating or blatant incompetence or blatant both! #farcical#NRL

— NEIL EVANS (@NeilEvansmail) August 12, 2023

The bunker is a deadset disgrace!! How they absolutely stuff up the easy ones is a complete laughing stock #NRLSouthsDragons

— Mattt0028 (@matttjohnn91) August 12, 2023

How is that onside? Absolutely crazy #NRLSouthsDragons

— Joshua Hill (@Kiinghill) August 12, 2023

souths fans can stop complaining about the refs now. try awarded after a blatant offside #NRLSouthsDragons

— abby (@lowkeyabby) August 12, 2023

That’ll be a tough one for the Dragons to take. Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images

Dragons interim coach Ryan Carr has been furious after the last two games after calls went against his team and he’ll no doubt be fired up after this drama.

But he played a straight bat when asked about it after the game.

“I’ve got no thoughts mate,” Carr said, to which Dragons captain Ben Hunt laughed.

Hunt then added that he had spoken with Mitchell after the game, who said he was onside.

“I saw the replay...I said he was offside, he said he was onside and thought it should have been a try. But I thought they had to be out of the 10.”

He said it was deflating but added “we didn’t even try to defend it”.

The Rabbitohs will be pleased to get the two points after the game struggled to reach any great heights.

At halftime, the commentators were even piling on the disappointing match.

“Both these sides need a reboot. This is messy,” Andrew Voss said.

“The Rabbitohs are poor. They’ve got to find something at halftime.”

Greg Alexander added: “They’ve been disappointing … The bad outweighs the good.”

However, two points is two points and the Rabbitohs will move into the top eight for now after the much needed result.