NRL world erupts as Andrew Johns says bunker officials ‘don’t know the rules’

It wouldn’t be an NRL Grand Final without controversy and a filthy Andrew Johns accused officials of not knowing the rules.

The opbstruction rule reared its ugly head again.

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns savaged the bunker after Brian To’o scored the Penrith Panthers’ first try of the Grand Final — but fortunately it didn’t cost Melbourne.

Cameron Smith led the Storm to another premiership as Craig Bellamy’s men held on for a 26-20 win in Sydney on Sunday night.

Down 26-0 in the 52nd minute, the Panthers looked to have finally scored their first try when lock Isaah Yeo kicked wide with To’o putting the ball down in the corner.

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But referee Gerard Sutton sent the call straight upstairs, checking for a possible obstruction.

While the grounding was fine, the obstruction rule again came under the microscope. In a season where the referees and bunker have been hammered over their interpretation of the rule, it appeared Yeo ran behind a decoy runner before kicking.

The commentators instantly believed it was an obstruction. But bunker official Steve Chiddy thought otherwise.

“Isaah Yeo has kicked the ball not clearly on the outside of the — sorry, on the inside of the defender, and has not disadvantaged the defence, playing on to this point,” he said.

Johns erupted over the decision to award a try, saying Yeo clearly gained an unfair advantage by running behind a teammate.

“Well, they don’t know the rules. They don’t know the fabric of the game,” Johns fumed.

“They don’t understand what happens with putting a question mark to the defence, the defence solves it.

“He runs behind the back of his play. This is an out-and-out obstruction.”

Johns was still fuming as Nathan Cleary kicked the conversion to make it 26-6 with 27 minutes remaining.

“He goes behind his player … You cannot do that,” Johns added.

“When Isaah Yeo gets the ball, there are a few options. One is to run himself, one to play the short ball, one to play at the back. He put that problem to the Storm defence and they’ve solved the problem, so then he double dips and runs behind his own player.

“Everyone who knows the game knows you can’t do that. You cannot run behind one of your own players and take advantage.”

The obstruction rule has raised its ugly head again.

Nine commentator Phil Gould also weighed in.

“He’s got the rule wrong. He’s got the rule wrong,” Gould added. “The bunker is wrong because Yeo has clearly run behind Capewell. He knows he’s run behind Capewell. That’s why he kicked it. He knew he was going to get penalised.”

Johns wasn’t alone in his fury, with vision of Bellamy exploding in the coaches box showing the Melbourne Storm coach wasn’t pleased by the decision either.

"And make sure the beers are cold. I don't want to drink warm VBs again FFS!"#NRLGF pic.twitter.com/VdT1YSw3Ne

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) October 25, 2020

Social media was equally as perplexed.

Another hilarious episode of “The Bunker” #NRL #NRLPanthersStorm pic.twitter.com/Yv06XQY0Xl

— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) October 25, 2020

Can you challenge The Bunker? Head to an even deeper bunker.#NRL

— Andy Lee (@andytomlee) October 25, 2020

I’m not one to hammer refs/the bunker because I think they get it right far more often than people give them credit for and often people don’t know the rules but that was deadset the worst call the bunker has ever made. It was as clear an obstruction as you will ever see. #nrl

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) October 25, 2020

Maybe the bunker is managing Penrith back into the game. Probably a question for Ivan... #NRL

— David Polkinghorne (@Super_Couch) October 25, 2020

Even Gus is saying “the Bunker’s wrong”... that tells you #NRLPanthersStorm #NRL

— Michael Atkinson (@kinson88) October 25, 2020

That’s a bunker shocker. Clearly on outside shoulder. Plus no try on field means any benefit of doubt goes to defenders.

— Chris Garry (@ChrisGarry7) October 25, 2020