Source : ABC NEWS
— reporting by AAP
The NRL has backed its bunker over two contentious calls in South Sydney’s finals exit, after Wayne Bennett unloaded on the game’s video review system.
An irate Bennett declared on Friday night that “the quicker they get rid of the bunker, the happier I’ll be”, questioning who was actually refereeing the game.
The veteran coach’s main issue in the 20-10 loss to Newcastle came when Jayden Sullivan had a try chalked off midway through the second half.
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Ashley Klein sent the decision up as a try but bunker official Chris Butler overruled the referee’s call, believing there was a knock-on by Souths winger Alex Johnston in the build-up.
And to add to Bennett’s frustration, Newcastle winger Dominic Young had a try awarded 10 minutes later.
Klein gave a try, and though Young’s foot appeared to have potentially grazed the touchline at the SFS, Butler backed up the call made by the on-field referee.
A long-time critic of the bunker, Bennett claimed that highlighted an inconsistency in what video officials required to overturn a decision.
But AAP understands the NRL thoroughly reviewed both calls on Saturday, and are comfortable with the decisions made.
The league also moved to clarify that the on-field call only stood if the bunker had inconclusive or insufficient evidence to go upon.
Otherwise, video officials were required to make their own impartial call regardless of how tight the decision was.
“I want to know who’s refereeing the game. That’s the first thing I want to know. Is it the bunker, or is it the referee?”, Bennett asked on Friday night.
“It’s not where I want the game to be, personally.
“I’ve been in it a long time and seen a lot of things and I don’t think the bunker enhances our game to the amount of what we believe it does.
“I’m happy to live with the referee’s call. Always have been. Always will be. None of us are getting it right. The bunker doesn’t get it right either every time.”
Bennett, who warned the issue would continue to rumble on through the finals series, said he had no qualms with try decisions simply being determined by one on-field referee.
