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NRL referees boss backs Inglis try

1st June, 2015
6

NRL referees boss Tony Archer has backed a controversial try ruling that may lead to Gold Coast coach Neil Henry landing in hot water.

Henry was clearly unimpressed with the video referees awarding South Sydney captain Greg Inglis a crucial try in the Titans’ 22-16 NRL loss on Saturday, voicing his disappointment post-match and again in a radio interview.

He was expected to come under scrutiny for the comments but an NRL spokesperson said on Monday night no decision had yet been made.

In the lead-up to Inglis’ try Gold Coast’s Lachlan Burr appeared to be impeded by Luke Keary, prompting the Titan to push the Rabbitohs playmaker out of the way.

A “no try” ruling was recommended on-field with Inglis appearing to run behind Keary before the decision was sent upstairs to video officials Jared Maxwell and Ben Galea.

But Archer said he had no problem with the video referees giving Inglis the green light.

Archer said replays showed Burr made contact with Keary before Inglis advanced, ensuring he did not run behind the Rabbitohs half.

“I am comfortable with the process that the video referee went through,” he told NRL HQ on the official NRL website.

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“Obviously it started with a no try but there are certain indicators that support the decision of overturning it to a try.

“You see that Keary passes the ball first, the contact made my Burr is then to push him (Keary) in the back – at that point Inglis is still inside of him, hasn’t run behind him and he commits to the defensive player.

“The contact is made prior to Inglis running behind him (Keary).

“I understand the process that he followed.”

The controversial try prompted league great Peter Sterling on Sunday to renew calls for video referees to be stripped of the power to rule on obstructions.

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