Source : ABC NEWS
The NRL has admitted the bunker missed a NSW knock-on in the lead-up to a crucial try that helped the Blues win Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider at Lang Park.
With the decider in the balance midway through the second half Queensland, trailing 18-8 but with the momentum after scoring just minutes earlier, were on the attack when a kick to the goal-line was contested by wingers Jojo Fifita (Maroons) and Blues debutant Jack Bostock.
The ball fell to the ground and was collected by centre Bradman Best, who ran the length of Lang Park to score and extend the Blues’ lead beyond two converted tries.
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But the bunker took its time before confirming the try, looking at several replays to see if Bostock had touched the football in the aerial contest and knocked on.
The try was allowed to stand and NSW would record a famous 30-12 win in enemy territory.
But the NRL released a statement after full-time declaring that Bostock had touched the ball and a knock-on was missed, which would have ruled out Best’s try.
“After reviewing all available angles, the bunker did not believe there was sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision,” the league said in a statement.
“Upon detailed review after the match, the NRL believes that while it was an extremely tight decision, the ball appeared to be touched.”
Luke Lewis, who played 17 Origins for NSW, was adamant while commentating the game for ABC Sport that he saw Bostock get a touch.
“I’m NSW and I think that comes off his hands,” he said on ABC Sport through gritted teeth.
“You can see his fingers my move. I think Queensland was ripped off.”
All NRL and State of Origin matches use the bunker, which is in a centralised centre in Sydney.
But Wednesday’s Telstra outage cut communication from Sydney to Lang Park, with a makeshift video review facility created in a television truck.
Former Queensland captain Cameron Smith, speaking on the Nine Network broadcast after the match said a review of the bunker was needed.
“If that’s touched his hand and it’s proved to have touched it, we need a serious review of the bunker,” Smith said.
“I’m disappointed that Queensland lost. Would that have changed the result? Probably not. But it was at a pretty crucial point in the game.”
