NRL 2020, round 10 | Melbourne Storm thump Gold Coast Titans

Another week, another controversy as the Gold Coast Titans’ try against the Melbourne Storm was questioned by commentators.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona celebrates scoring a try.

The Melbourne Storm were being held by the Gold Coast Titans in their Friday evening clash — at least for most of the first half.

The Titans put in some impressive defence early but it wore the side down, with the perennial frontrunning Storm eventually ran away 42-6 in their first game on the Sunshine Coast

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Although seemingly business as normal, the Storm had been denied early before Cam Smith linked with Cam Munster to open the scoring the 19th minute.

Some impressive Gold Coast defence had denied the Storm for a fair chunk of the game but made it interesting with a try of their own in the 26th minute.

But it was a controversial try with Brian Kelly scoring after pushing Storm centre Paul Momirovski in the back.

The @GCTitans level the game up! #NRLStormTitans#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/fEVC5LtX5G

— NRL (@NRL) July 17, 2020

Momirovski came to clean up the ball but juggled an awkward bounce before being pushed by Kelly with the ball landing at the Titans’ centre’s feet.

Immediately, former NSW Origin hooker Michael Ennis said it wouldn’t be a try.

“Absolutely no try, there’ll be no doubt about this,” he said.

But referee Chris Sutton sent the call up as a try, asking the bunker to look at the play as Momirovski was in possession of the ball as he didn’t pick the ball up cleanly, meaning the push was legal, with a green light for the play.

Ennis said it was “crazy”.

“By the letter of the law, clearly that’s a try but for all money Momirovski just can’t be shoved in the back I wouldn’t think,” he said.

“I don’t like it to be honest, I don’t like the look of it. I think we’ll seeing a little more of that happening, You don’t often see that one come up and sometimes it takes a moment like that for other players to try their luck.”

Sideline reporter and Queensland Origin star Justin Hodges said he agreed with Ennis, pointing to a similar moment from last week that went the other way and exposed some “inconsistent” interpretations.

Ennis added: “You can see the reaction from Craig Bellamy there, it’s pure disbelief that you can do that and come away with the try, to me that makes no sense.”

Ennis stressed that it wasn’t wrong but looked wrong.

A push in the back but still a try.

The pair also had former Panthers and Broncos coach Anthony Griffin piping up on Twitter, saying “How do they get it so wrong. The Bunker is a joke. Can we get PVL to fix that next”.

Even Mal Meninga said he thought it would have been a no try.

But on social media, the mood was definitely for the try.

At halftime on Fox League, Greg Alexander said it would be similar to a pass being juggled as the defender wouldn’t need to wait until it was caught to make the tackle.

That’s a try. No different to being tackled.

— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) July 17, 2020

So you have to wait for someone to catch the ball cleanly before you lay a hand on them? #nrlstormtitans

— matt (@mattencarnacion) July 17, 2020

Why does Mick Ennis think you're not allowed to push people juggling a football? #NRL #NRLStormTitans

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) July 17, 2020

Interesting situation with that Kelly try.

On one hand, he pushed Papenhuyzen in the back without ever having control of the ball.

On the other hand, it's a try against the Storm.#NRLStormTitans

— Andrew Ferguson (@AndrewRLP) July 17, 2020

What an amazing sport where you can watch it for 45 years and still see something completely new. #NRLmelgld

— âš¡Steve Mascord☠️ (@therealsteavis) July 17, 2020

But the call seemed to inspire the Storm, who hit back with two more tries before the break, leading 18-6 at halftime.

It comes on the back on nine Titans errors, which held the door wide open for the Storm, even after two successful captain’s challenges for strips.

The second half was a different story with the Storm controlling proceedings and coming away with the commanding win to join the Parramatta Eels on top of the ladder.