‘Something happened’: Luke Brooks costs Sea Eagles controversial try in Jarome Luai scrap

NRL fans have been left divided over a controversial try Penrith’s win over Manly on Sunday that left the Sea Eagles furious.

A controversial try has left Manly fuming after the Panthers claimed a 32-22 win in Sunday afternoon’s clash in Penrith.

The Sea Eagles had raced out of the blocks with three tries to one to open up a 12-4 lead via a hat-trick to Tommy Talau by the 26th minute before the Panthers hit back.

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But with 20 minutes remaining, a controversial moment had fan bases divided after the Panthers scored a try despite Jarome Luai and Luke Brooks engaging in some push and shove.

Manly were still in the match at 22-12 but Liam Henry crashed over for his second NRL try, ultimately opening up a 28-12 lead.

Instantly, Fox League’s commentators questioned if Luai had obstructed Brooks, leaving a hole for Daine Laurie to run through and put Henry over the line.

But Andrew Voss quickly changed his tune.

“Brooks has carried on — I can’t take the try off Penrith,” Voss said. “You can say he denied him the space — he has no interest in taking the space.

“If Brooks shows he’s trying to walk away, I take the try off Penrith. But he’s trying to go on with it.”

He added “common sense says it’s a try”.

Laurie ran straight back through the gap Brooks would have been in. Photo: Fox Sports

Luke Brooks was fired up enough to leave a hole in the defensive line. Photo: Fox Sports

And to Voss’ point, common sense prevailed with the Bunker confirming the four pointer.

Cooper Cronk said it was hard to tell who started the push and shove and agreed it was the right call.

Speaking on Channel 9, Cameron Smith said: “He had an opportunity to get out of it, didn’t he? He could’ve just played on, Luke Brooks.”

Andrew Johns said: “You don’t see this off Luke Brooks at all, any of that sort of niggle stuff. Whereas Jarome, he loves it.”

Smith said it showed kids at home they had to “play to the whistle”.

The Sea Eagles were far from happy, with referee Gerard Sutton telling Brooks he needed to have walked away from the scenario, while captain Daly Cherry-Evans asked if he’d seen “what he did”.

What he was referring to was some alleged facial massaging from Luai on Ben Trbojevic on the ground, with Cherry-Evans saying: “That’s what started it”.

The incident that was believed to have started it. Photo: Fox Sports

Post-match, Seibold said Brooks “isn’t a renowned scrapper”, before Cherry-Evans butted in.

“I think he saw something there and he was just sticking up for his teammate,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I don’t think he got baited and I liked what he did there. I don’t think he gave away a try. There was something there.”

Asked if he believed the Panthers would have scored if Brooks just got back in the defensive line, Cherry-Evans said: “I’m not sure.”

Seibold said he was “sticking up for his mate,” adding Brooks had “been a really fair player for a really long time”.

Seibold and Cherry-Evans wouldn’t say what was said but it must have been brutal for a guy like Brooks to react.

“Something happened on the floor with Benny Trbojevic and he was looking out for his mate,” Seibold said.

“If you dig down a little bit deeper and have a good look at what happened there, Brooksy’s not a fighter.

“Ultimately they scored so they were too smart for us.”

When asked about the incident, Luai put the ball back in Manly’s court.

“Until they say something about it (what was said), that’s on them,” Luai said.

“There was a bit of feeling. It’s just the competitor in me.”

In the court of public opinion, the verdict was pretty split.

“Can’t give that. Luai clearly interfering with the defence. What a joke,” one fan wrote.

“How’s that a try when Brooks is being held back by Luai? What is the bunker looking at?” another added.

But on the other side, another fan posted: “Luke Brooks choosing to square up to Luai rather than defend LMAOOOO.”

Another commented: “Luke Brooks getting involved in a stink and costing his team a try. Brilliant.”

Luke Brooks wasn't happy. Photo: Fox Sports

It was a stunning match dominated by the outside backs.

For the Panthers, Brian To’o finished with 261m from 18 runs as well as three tries, Sunia Turuva scored twice and ran 229m, while Daine Laurie had a line break, two line break assists and a try assist as well as a massive 344m from 26 runs.

For Manly, Talau finished with four tries, while Jason Saab added one himself, with both men running over 100m, while centre Reuben Garrick had a team high 209m for the Sea Eagles.

Laurie was enormous for the Panthers in the absence of regular fullback Dylan Edwards.

“It was my best game of the year,” he said.

“I’ve been on the bench a lot so once I got my opportunity, I had to rip in.

“Dylan’s out so I had some big shoes to fill. I wanted to build momentum for my team and I was trying to do the best I could and play like Dylan.”

Coach Ivan Cleary praised the way Laurie took his opportunity to play in the No.1 jersey for a full 80 minutes.

“He was outstanding today.” Cleary said.

“I’m really happy for him. He’s one of us here and he came back looking for an opportunity and he’s been patient.”

It was a tough afternoon for the Sea Ealges as backrower Haumole Olakau’atu didn’t return after leaving the field in the first half with calf tightness.

With Matt Jones, NCA Newswire