‘Utterly bizarre’: Commentator calls out NRL double standard over try

While the commentators were split on a contentious try, one of Channel 9’s main callers has blasted what he called a “shocker”.

Campbell Graham scored, but should it have been a try? Photo: Getty Images and Fox Sports

Jason Demetriou’s South Sydney Rabbitohs have pulled away over his former mentor Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in a 36-14 win at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dolphins were dominant in the first half, leading 14-6 at the break but the Rabbitohs scored five unanswered tries to run away with the two points.

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But it doesn’t mean the game wasn’t without its controversy.

Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham scored a double but his 44th minute try left commentators scratching their heads when it appeared the Souths star pushed Dolphins centre Euan Aitken out of the way to get the ball.

While the Bunker didn’t have a problem with it, there were question marks over the try.

Lachlan Ilias put up a pinpoint bomb with Graham snagging the four pointer.

Johnathan Thurston believed it should have been a penalty to the Dolphins.

“Was that a push in the back from Campbell Graham?” he said.

Darren Lockyer said: “I think this is a penalty. They should be looking at that because he was taken out, Aitken.

“I’m surprised by that, because he had no chance to compete and protect Nikorima. He gets pushed out of the way. I’m surprised by that.”

Campbell Graham has himself a double... but should the Bunker have intervened? 🤔

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— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) April 13, 2023

Cooper Cronk, meanwhile, believe it was a fair try, claiming it was shoulder to shoulder.

“The Dolphins players are complaining that he has obstructed one of the players coming through,” Cronk said on Fox League.

“But I’m going to say it’s fair game. Euan Aitken is the one that goes down but Campbell Graham, the whole time has his eyes on the ball.

“They’ll look at this but I think it’s a try.”

Everything else was good about the try. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

But Warren Smith wasn’t buying it.

“He may have his eyes on the ball but the shove in the back just trampled Euan Aitken,” he said. “Mark Nicolls looking at the ref like ‘sir, you need to have a look at that’.

“A touch of controversy perhaps.”

Nine commentator Mathew Thompson tweeted: “Well, I am baffled. Dismayed even. How is this a try when an ‘escort’ can be penalised for merely glancing a kick chaser? Utterly bizarre. Shocker.”

Racing expert and CEO of the NSW Trainers Association Richard Callender replied: “Embarrassing mate. I need Souths to win but …‘Apparently he only had eyes for ball’

“That’s irrelevant. He knocked him out of the way in an illegal play.

“That’s not allowed under the rules. It’s a No Try every other game.”

Asked about the incident in his post-match press conference, Bennett said: “It left me confused. It was a push in the back.

“Euan’s allowed to run the line he was running. He was going back in support. He wasn’t going anywhere else.

“Decision made, move on.”

But the true death knell rang in the 60th minute when Kenny Bromwich was sent for 10 minutes after rushing up in kick chase and putting a huge hit on Taane Milne before the bomb had come down, completely misjudging the timing.

At the time, it was 20-14 and the Rabbitohs scored three tries in the 10 minutes after leaving the Dolphins without the ball for nine straight minutes.

Tries to Isaiah Tass, Latrell Mitchell and Alex Johnston blew out the scoreline.