‘No try every day’: Controversial matchwinning try slammed

Commentators have been left baffled after a controversial act was allowed to pass which led to the matchwinning moment for the Warriors.

Shaun Johnson scored. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors will likely finish round four in the top four for the first time since 2019 after a controversial 16-14 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Early in the second half, the Bulldogs took an advantage after a Warriors try was denied over a divisive strip call, scoring at the other end in a stunning turnaround that had New Zealand fans fuming.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

But the Warriors rode their own luck, scoring a controversial try of their own to seal a famous victory in front of a rapturous home crowd at Mount Smart Stadium.

Having come back to be within a try at 14-10 the Warriors hit the lead when a Shaun Johnson dummy put him over under the posts.

The problem was the only player who could have made a play at Johnson — Reed Mahoney — was taken out by Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake running the outside option, which has long been deemed an obstruction.

Speaking on Fox League after the match, Greg Alexander, Corey Parker and Braith Anasta agreed it should not have been a try.

“He beats Faitala-Mariner and gets through the line but Reed Mahoney isn’t given a chance to make a tackle,” Alexander said on Fox League.

And this isn't an obstruction NRL? Photo: Fox Sports

“Whether he makes the tackle or not, the probability of doing that is very very low,” Corey Parker said.

“Given what we’ve seen and the rule, it’s no try. An attacking player has taken out the defender in the line on the way to the try.”

Alexander: “Absolutely, it’s a no try every day.”

Anasta: “It’s irrelevant whether Mahoney would have got to Johnson or not, it really is irrelevant.”

Alexander: “How do you know Reed Mahoney doesn’t reach out and knock the ball free? He’s taken away the chance to do that.”

Speaking in the press conference, Mahoney admitted he wasn’t going to make the tackle.

“I wasn’t really in it,” he said. “Can’t do much about it.”

Good to see obstruction is allowed back in the game.
So you can now have decoy runners block defence from the ball carriers ... nice to know#NRLWarriorsBulldogs

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) March 26, 2023

Don’t worry guys, Reed Mahoney also said he had no play in Shaun Johnson

— Christopher Reive (@ChrisReive) March 26, 2023

The crux of the obstruction rule is that support players must not impede the defensive line.

The only way the incident could be deemed not an obstruction in this circumstance is if Mahoney was believed to have initiated the contact with Fonua-Blake.

Johnson was the difference. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

While it was a controversial finish, it doesn’t take away from a masterful performance from Johnson.

Asked what the difference between the teams was, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said simply: “Shaun Johnson.”

Johnson scored the controversial match winner as well as delivering a try assist and two line break assists, as well as making a line break himself.

It’s an impressive comeback from the who had struggled to rediscover his form since before he snapped his Achilles in 2020.

“This is the best Shaun Johnson has played in three years. I can’t remember the last time,” Alexander said. “Shaun Johnson took the line on throughout the 80 minutes like he did against the Bulldogs.”

The result sees the Warriors move into the top four for the first time since 2019, while the Bulldogs drop to 2-2 for the season and sit just outside the top eight after four rounds.