‘Remarkable’: Try controversy leaves NRL in disbelief

The bunker has given the New Zealand Warriors a try against the Gold Coast Titans that not even they believed was a try.

The decision shocked everyone. Photo: Fox Sports

The Gold Coast Titans have defeated the New Zealand Warriors 20-18, surviving a controversial try which left commentators and fans were left in disbelief.

The Titans got off to a scintillating start leading 12-0 after 14 minutes and dominating the Warriors in the early exchanges.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

But the visitors hit back, taking the lead 18-16 at the halftime break after coming to life after a slow start.

With the final play of the half, the Warriors took the lead in controversial scenes when Adam Pompey was awarded the try despite making an absolute meal of a ball bouncing on the ground.

After former Titan Ash Taylor grubbered into the in-goal, Titans winger Phillip Sami saw the ball go through his hands.

Neither he or the Warriors’ Jesse Arthars were deemed to have grounded the ball leaving Pompey just needing downward pressure to score the try.

However, he appeared to knock the ball into Sami’s leg as he grounded the ball and the commentators were far from certain it was a try.

“He’s rubbed the ball up the leg the scorer,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said.

“It’s not even a clear put down from Pompey.”

Pompey didn’t look interested at all in the possible try, while the Titans were in disbelief the try had been awarded.

“They have come up with the most bizarre try-scoring action there from Pompey,” premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan said.

Voss said he still wasn’t certain Pompey had grounded the ball.

“I think the put down from Pompey is really questionable, he has pushed it against his own player. has he got control? I think the Titans should be saying can you review the review because have you really reviewed the actual put-down?” Voss said.

“Does he have control of the ball or does he just push the ball into the player in front of him. What a remarkable finish to the first half.”

Luckily it didn't change the match. Photo: Fox Sports

After the half, Braith Anasta, Michael Ennis and Cooper Cronk all appeared in agreement that it wasn’t a try.

“I think the focus from the bunker was so much on the grounding from Sami and not so much Sami,” Anasta said.

“I think he pushes it into the leg of Sami and doesn’t get control of it,” Ennis said. “It’s not a try.”

Cronk added: “And his right hand slides off the ball and down onto the grass. I”m with Mick, it hits the leg but I don’t know if there is compression off the grass at all.”

Although the trio said after watching it in slow motion that Pompey may have had enough control, rugby league great Mark Geyer tweeted: “Are we watching the same game? Pompei didn’t ground it? Bunker schmunker”.

New Zealand Herald reporter Christopher Reive added: “Sami: Goes to ground ball, misses, rolls over it.

“Pompey: Goes to ground the ball, either knocks on or knocks it into his own player in front of him before grounding.

“That has to be a make-up try for the one they took off Chanel Harris-Tavita, right?

“I’m sure Pompey knocked that on. What a weird sequence.”

It comes after Chanel Harris-Tavita had a try taken off him in the 24th minute when he was deemed to have lost control of the ball.

“I think hard done by but we will live with it,” Voss said of the incident.

Flanagan said: “They are making it hard to score tries these days Vossy. I feel he still had control of the ball even though his hand came off it. He still had control with his forearm.”

A beautiful pass from AJ Brimson to Sami in the second half was enough for the Titans to claim the side's first win of the season in the second half as the points dried up.

How about the PASS! 🙌#NRLTitansWarriorspic.twitter.com/IvXYc40jAT

— NRL (@NRL) March 19, 2022