‘We’re extremely disappointed that this was penalised’: Annesley calls out bunker official for major hip-drop blunder

The NRL has been forced to apologise for another blunder after A star player was incorrectly penalised for a phantom hip-drop tackle.

Graham Annesley has called out several refereeing errors in Round 12, but says the officials made the right call to disallow a Broncos try. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

Graham Annesley has vented his frustration at an incorrect call made by the bunker just days after the NRL released a video to clubs, fans, media and officials to explain what constitutes a hip-drop tackle.

The video couldn’t have been any clearer but it didn’t stop Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney from being penalised and placed on report for a tackle which didn’t even earn a charge from the match review committee.

The tackle on Moeaki Fotuaika looked awkward because the Titans forward’s leg was trapped, but it wasn’t as a result of any foul play.

Reed Mahoney was placed on report for a tackle which has since been cleared by the NRL and the match review committee. Picture: NRL Photos

“Having reviewed this today, we and the match review committee don’t believe this is a hip-drop tackle,” Annesley said at his weekly football briefing.

“This is a tackle that does not fall into that category. It should have been a play the ball after this incident. It’s unusual what happens, but it’s not a hip-drop tackle and doesn’t fall into that category.

“The fact the ball-carrier’s leg gets caught between Mahoney’s legs is irrelevant. It’s unfortunate if there is an injury caused by that sort of thing, but it’s not because of any act of foul play.

“While we’re extremely disappointed that this was penalised for a hip-drop and then obviously cleared by the match review committee correctly … we’ll continue to work with the match review officials to get these right.”

Annesley also conceded the bunker official was wrong on Saturday night when Joe Ofahengaue was ruled to have grounded the ball incorrectly as he attempted to score a try.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens was furious even though his team scored 66 points, and it turns out he was absolutely right to blow up, given there was no evidence to suggest the lock forward had dropped the ball.

Joe Ofahengaue scored a try on Saturday night but it should have been his second after the bunker incorrectly disallowed a try in the first half. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

“It’s very, very difficult to reach a conclusion that the hands or at least the forearms aren’t on that ball when it hits the ground, and that’s all that’s required in terms of forcing the ball,” Annesley said.

“For the bunker to overrule an on-field decision, they have to feel they have sufficient evidence to overturn that decision.

“We don’t believe that decision should have been overturned.”

Sheens was angry with another call from that game when former Tiger Luciano Leilua was awarded a try.

The Tigers coach was adamant Leilua was offside in the kick chase, but replays showed it was too tight to overturn the live decision, given there wasn’t enough evidence.

Annesley also broke down the controversial sequence of events which saw referee Adam Gee question bunker official Ashley Klein after he cleared Reece Walsh of taking out Tyrone Peachey as he contested a kick.

“It doesn’t look right to me, Ash,” the referee said during the review.

Klein immediately requested another camera angle and changed his decision to support Gee’s original ruling.

Annesley said the process could have been handled better, but he had no issues with the officials working together to reach the right result.