In controversial scenes at Salter Oval, a try to North Queensland winger Murray Taulagi was overturned during the Cowboys’ 28-14 win over the Bulldogs.
After scoring in the 57th minute, the Bunker was called in to check the play for a knock-on.
In a decision which split the NRL community, the ball was judged to have traveled forward after bouncing off of Valentine Holmes’ shoulder as Tom Dearden passed to Taulagi.
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“We always try to find why it’s not a try,” Balmain Tigers great Steve Roach said in commentary for Fox League.
“How does it go forward?”
Fellow legend Billy Moore was equally staggered.
“For me that was a try,” Moore added.
Speaking after the game, North Queensland coach Todd Payten said the no-try decision was erroneous.
“I though it went backwards, definitely,” he said.
“If the try had gone up as a try then we would be celebrating, but watching from the lines, even Muzz (Taulagi) who caught it on the wing, had to reach backwards.
“So, that says to me the ball has gone backwards.”
Fortunately, the decision made no difference as the Cowboys shrugged off a slow start to win their third match in row and secure second spot on the ladder.
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