‘I’m still blamed’: Jamie Soward lifts the lid on controversial finish from 15 years ago

Even after 15 years a former Dragons star still cops it from angry Bulldogs fans after a controversial call cost Canterbury victory over the Red V.

Jamie Soward has had his say on a controversial finish from a game 15 years ago which still angers Bulldogs fans every time it gets brought up. Picture: AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox

Bulldogs back-rower Jaeman Salmon never got the chance to go to any of Canterbury’s grand finals when he was growing up.

But he’ll never forget the night the Dragons broke his heart with a controversial late penalty which saw fans hurl soft drink bottles at Jamie Soward as he left the field.

It was 15 years ago when the mighty clubs clashed on a blockbuster Friday night showdown between the two top teams after nine rounds, with the Dragons holding on for a 20-18 win at Kogarah.

Salmon was in the stands that night as Luke Patten broke free in the final minute and found a barnstorming Jamal Idris who raced away to snatch what was supposed to be a famous Canterbury victory denied by a penalty after Dragons playmaker Soward was knocked over.

Jaeman Salmon joined the Bulldogs this season after supporting them as a child. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“Growing up, I was a Bulldogs supporter my whole childhood,” Salmon said, with the same two teams to kick off Indigenous Round at Accor Stadium.

“I was a diehard supporter when they made those grand finals in 2012 and 2014. They had such a strong team back then and I used to love the way they played with James Graham basically inventing ball-playing by front-rowers.

“I didn’t go to any of the grand finals, but I was there for a couple of special games.

“I was there when Hazem El Masri broke the points scoring record, and I was at the game at Kogarah where they would’ve won but Jamie Soward ran 100 metres to say that he’d been obstructed.

“The crowd was wild, and I remember my old man lifting me up when they scored because we thought we won, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Bulldogs fans were irate with the decision to disallow the try. Picture: AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox

While Bulldogs fans were cheering wildly, the video referee was checking a possible obstruction back near halfway where Greg Eastwood had blocked Soward as he tried to get to Patten.

It was eventually ruled a penalty and the Dragons held on, with Soward still copping it from Canterbury fans almost 15 years later, with the club even posting a poll about the decision on its website back in 2015.

After the game, NRL referees boss Robert Finch said the try should have been awarded.

“I do love having a bit of fun with the Bulldogs fans over it because it was such a big game. It was Friday night, both teams were going really well, and rightly or wrongly, it’s a moment that people still bring up,” Soward said.

“I did a podcast with Luke Patten a few years ago and we broke it down play by play and how that last set happened.

“If it’s 2024, it’s a no try, so essentially the video referee was ahead of its time because Greg Eastwood stopped in the play, and now we see more than ever players taking a dive (to win a penalty).

Bulldogs fans produced a number of memes after the controversial loss.

“I’m surprised I didn’t have to get security to leave the ground that night, but it happens weekly now with players taking a dive but people don’t really care.

“I’m still blamed for something that I wouldn’t call a dive. I just copied what my mum had done on the basketball court and made the ref make a decision which I’m supposed to do.

“If you slow it down, I turn to go and chase. Despite my body shape now, I’d like to think that I would have made some sort of effort back then to be in the play.

“Greg Eastwood was a fantastic player and a big guy, but he didn’t move.”