NRL 2024: Andrew Abdo defends bunker after ‘ridiculous’ calls from Wayne Bennett to scrap video technology

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has come to the defence of the bunker after Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett slammed the video technology following a crucial no-try decision went against his side against the Knights.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says calls to scrap the bunker are “ridiculous” after Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett slammed the video technology, declaring the NRL should ‘get rid of it’.

The Dolphins coach has been a long-time critic of the bunker and doubled down on his disdain after a try to fullback Trai Fuller was denied as an obstruction in the fledgling club’s loss to Newcastle on Sunday.

Fuller was ruled to have taken advantage of a hole in the defence created by lead runner Connelly Lemuelu, denying Knights forward Brodie Jones a chance to reach the Dolphins No.1.

Lemuelu’s run also made contact with the inside shoulder of Newcastle playmaker Jack Cogger.

The Knights then broke the nill-all deadlock to an Adam Elliott try in the 28th minute in Sunday’s 14-6 victory to seal the final spot in the top eight.

“I think get rid of it. You didn’t want to hear that did you?,” Bennett said after the loss, convinced the Knights made a poor defensive decision and not an obstruction.

“I feel sad for the teams going forward over the next four weeks in the sense that we can’t get it right and some other team will pay a price for it.

While Abdo said he respected Bennett’s take on the bunker, the NRL needed the video technology and did not fear it would play a decisive role in results over the finals series.

“All I’ll say is, I think it’s ridiculous to consider a sport not using technology to make decisions,” Abdo said at Monday’s finals launch.

Andrew Abdo defended the bunker following Bennett’s attack. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“If you think about all of the tries that are scored in the corners, wingers scoring ties from kicks, we’ve seen the banker being really efficient, quick and accurate and 99% of the time they get it right.

“Then you’re going to get calls that are subjective, and obstruction is where we have guidelines, but is ultimately in a call that needs to be made.

“You have lead runners take out players, you run the risk of that being called back and that being penalised.

Wayne Bennett has been critical of the bunker in the past. Picture: NRL Photos

“When we talk about the bunker, the bunker is nothing more than a referee using technology to assist the on field match referee making the right decision for the fans.”

A number of bunker calls around high tackles, the disruptor and obstruction have created a sense of frustrations for fans through the season.

Abdo said the use of the bunker would be reviewed at the end of the season.

“In the off season, we’ll stop, take a breath and think about process, the technology and think about the rules to try and make sure that we’re getting better and we are eking out any of the issues that people have,” Abdo said.

“But I think talk of saying that the banker itself is of no value. I don’t think that’s right.

“Our fans want quick decisions, and they want accurate decisions, and we’ll keep looking at that.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Andrew Abdo defends bunker after ‘ridiculous’ calls from Wayne Bennett to scrap video technology