Melbourne Storm’s Jack Howarth no try slammed by NRL fans

Fans and a number of NRL experts were positive Jack Howarth had put Melbourne in front, before the Bunker intervened.

The Melbourne Storm have been denied a try that would have put them in front in a hugely controversial moment in the NRL Grand Final.

After Storm backrower Eli Katoa forced a dropped ball error from Penrith’s Dylan Edwards early in the second half, Melbourne had great field position.

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Trailing 10-6 at the time, Jack Howarth received an inside ball from Xavier Coates and dived over the tryline surrounded by a swarm of pink Panthers jerseys.

Ashley Klein ruled no try and sent it up to the Bunker and after replays were showed, a number of those watching on — including Howarth himself — seemed to assume a try was about to be ruled.

The Bunker had other ideas, however, ruling Howarth had been held up and the ball didn’t touch the ground.

Howarth forced his way over the line.

It was an incredibly tight call, with Ashley Klein ruling no try. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Immortal Andrew Johns was among those that were certain it should have been a try.

“Let’s have another look at that please,” he said on Channel 9. “The ball hits the ground.

“I’m sure the ball gets down. Watch, now. It’s down. It hits the ground.”

Most seemed to be in agreement, although Brad Fittler wasn’t so sure.

“When you go into the bunker there is 23 camera angles,” he said.

“Whoever is sitting there at the moment, which is Grant Atkins, he would have every view.

“From the one I saw his hand was underneath the ball.”

Reporters were later shown another angle viewers hadn't seen on TV which appeared to back up Fittler’s assertion.

Journalist Martin Gabor tweeted: “Fair play to the NRL. We’ve been shown a high resolution replay and there is no point when the ball touches the ground. Jack Howarth did NOT score. I thought it was definitely a try at the time.”

AAP reporter Scott Bailey also wrote: “If ever there was an argument for broadcasters to show what the bunker sees, that was it. The NRL have shown media footage that clearly shows Howarth did not ground the ball. But that’s a tough sell to everyone who just turned off the TV.”

Some of the Storm players were very confident. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The majority of those watching on social media were on Johns’ side, believing the Storm had been denied a try that would have put them in front.

Victorian cricket great Darren Berry tweeted: “How can we have technology and 20 people sitting in a bunker & get it so wrong whilst everyone at home can the see the ball on the ground – disgrace.”

AFL journalist Jon Ralph wrote: “I have only watched it 76 times but it seems clear the ball hits turf. WTF?”

Jarryd Hayne seemed to agree, replying to Ralph: “Ouch! Biggest game of the year!!”

Other fans seemed just as certain, just adding to the need for the NRL to show the angle that supposedly proves the case.

“Game is a joke, clear try for storm,” was one comment on X.

“What a deadset joke! That was a try!” wrote another.

Howarth himself didn’t seem sure. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“No other reason for that quite obvious try not to be given. I’m no Storm fan but they’ve been f**ked over big time there,” declared another.

“Absolutely appalling decision from the bunker — bet that was the decider too,” wrote a fourth.

Another posted a replay of the moment with the simple caption: “100% robbed.”

As always there were some who disagreed, including the comment: “Queue all the sheep claiming Melbourne have been dudded because the morons at channel 9 can’t tell the difference between an arm and a ball.”

Another was looking forward to Storm coach Craig Bellamy’s post-match press conference, tweeting: “Starting a GoFundMe to help Bellache pay the fines he’s gonna cop from the spray he gives the Bunker after that shocking call.”

As is so often the case after a controversial call, the Panthers went up the other end of the field and scored through Paul Alamoti to stretch their lead to 14-6 in the 60th minute, which would prove the final scoreline in Penrith’s triumph.

It seems it all could have been solved by everyone getting access to the same images as the Bunker.