Fans fume over ‘broken’ bunker as controversy erupts minutes into NRL season

Footy fans’ favourite activity is officially back as the NRL bunker took just minutes into the new season to draw unwanted attention to itself.

Should this have been a try? Photo: Fox Sports.

It took less than one half of footy for NRL fans to get back into the swing of the game’s favourite pastime — blowing up at officials.

Penrith completed a clinical 28-6 win over Manly at home on Thursday night to kick off the season, looking slick even without injured halfback Nathan Cleary.

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The Panthers dominated from the opening whistle but were forced to wait for their first points of the season after two of their tries were disallowed in the early exchanges.

Stephen Crichton thought he’d crossed first but a black-and-white obstruction on Kieran Foran ruled that out. Next, winger Brian To’o was denied when the bunker deemed Jarome Luai had obstructed Manly’s defenders close to the line.

Even though Luai had stopped during broken play and stood still, holding his hands up to plead his innocence as To’o zigged and zagged before burrowing over for a four-pointer, he was pinged for wrongdoing.

Wrong place, wrong time

Former NSW hooker Michael Ennis wasn’t impressed.

“Where’s he supposed to go?” he said on the Fox League commentary. “Brain To’o it is, comes back and gets through the tackle of (Haumole) Olakau’atu and I don’t think Tom Trbojevic is impeded there.

“He cut so hard off his left foot and he gets back on the inside and through sheer strength gets rid of Olakau’atu.

“He’s just running through there Luai, trips over, where’s he supposed to go? He’s trying to get out of the way. That’s a big call.”

Penrith legend Greg Alexander agreed the bunker got it wrong.

“Brian To’o, he gets to the line and I agree that Jarome Luai was in front of the ball carrier but he did not play any part in stopping Tom (Trbojevic) make the tackle,” Alexander said.

“He puts the footwork on, To’o, and Tom actually pushes off Luai to get closer to Brian To’o.

“So that wasn’t an obstruction play, that should have been a try.”

Social media was just as perplexed. Daily Telegraph NRL reporter Phil Rothfield tweeted: “Oh dear. Bloody bunker.”

Sports reporter Bernie Coen wrote: “Oh rugby league bunker … it just keeps on giving.”

Former sports writer Richard Hinds suggested “the obstruction rule is broken”. “They’re not asking players to get out of the way. They’re asking them to vanish,” he wrote.

Ex-football journalist Ray Gatt added: “And I thought VAR was a piece of c**p. The NRL bunker” with four face-palm emojis.

CHECK OUT THE CONTROVERSIAL CALL IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The Panthers were unstoppable. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Sean O’Sullivan performed admirably at halfback in Cleary’s absence as the Panthers added three tries in the second half to go with their two four-pointers in the opening stanza.

Manly’s only try was scored by Ethan Bullemor on the stroke of halftime and the Sea Eagles never looked likely against the reigning premiers.

“Tom Trbojevic was kept completely out of it,” Alexander said on Fox League.

Ennis added: “Six points for Manly and last year they averaged 30.

“That’s because of possession and where the game is being played.

“You talk about the blueprint there would be a lot of coaches there just watching this unrelenting kick plan. The Panthers were so disciplined with their plans.”