Why the O'Sullivan try decision was correct (and how the referees boss got it wrong)

I think most of the supporters accept a bad decision but they turn off to game manipulation where officials shift the momentum of games. If anyone doesn’t think the games is being orchestrated to be close they aren’t watching the modern game. My fear is it’s getting to a point where certain teams are being looked after. Don’t forget the draw is structured so Sydney based team play each other twice while the none Sydney teams play each other twice to enable a manufacturer 8 that should hopefully comprise of a split between 4 Sydney based teams and 4 none Sydney based teams. Why? Money and revenue based decision. So don’t think the comp isn’t devoid of bias.

The Sharks benefited against the Warriors The Warriors benefited against Souths Souths benefited against the Cowboys (in two games) and the Gold Coast Every team benefits and gets hurt by the officials call at some stage - and news flash, go to the EPL, AFL, NFL, NBA or MLB and you will get the same thing. At some point, you'all just have to suck it up and accept it. And of course there is something else to consider - some of you have some bias, where as the officials (believe it or not) don't - so maybe sometimes your opinion is wrong...

So are you angry because they acknowledged a mistake or angry because they wouldn't acknowledge what you perceived to be a mistake? And yet you ask for consistency... They can't come out and say a pass was forward or not when watching the review of the game. Once upon a time when video ref first came in they could rule on forward passes, but it was deemed that it wasn't possible to do this accurately so it was (rightly) pulled. Now you expect the boss of the referees to come out and say passes were forward or not forward while watching the same camera angles we have always had?! It isn't going to happen! Because if he came out and said "pass x should have been ruled a forward pass", then it is opening the door up to the question - why don't we use video to review forward passes?..

They changed the rule on hitting someone out of dummy half midseason but won't touch the forward pass rule with a barge pole . This rule is killing matches and teams.

The Sharks beat the Warriors with a ridiculous forward pass so they should be 2 points less also.

Spot on. I’m still trying to get my head around the over ruled disallowed Gagai try in Origin 2 based on some out of sinc front and side still shot? Then a penalty try for a bloke falling over chasing a kick 10m away.

Thanks Clint. I’d say that’d be it. I would have said there was sufficient evidence myself. Thanks for sharing your take on it.

Hey Dutski. Not Rocket but I had a bit of a go at explaining my take on it above. I reckon insufficient evidence was the call. Ref on field said to Titans blokes to imagine the post wasn't there i.e. they believe it was possible he knocked it back and it bounced off the post/pad. Not necessarily agreeing with the call but I can understand if that was their logic, otherwise I've got no idea how it was allowed.

Bottom line is 2 wrong calls from the refs have propelled the roosters from 7th to 4th spot on the ladder. That try and the last one from a blatant forward pass right under the refs eye was astounding. Penrith, Sharks and Warriors now wrongfully sit below the Roosters and with 7 rounds to go we all know the record for teams winning a premiership from outside the top 4. Passionate supporters of those teams and 95% of NRL followers have every right to be outraged. The refs should be feeling very lucky this game isn't played in Columbia.

The NRL and referees amaze me. The fact that they admitting is bad enough but some of the forward pass and non forward decisions ( benjis forward pass and the storm's forward pass are a good example ). They admit they got it wrong on roosters try but not the other 2 and then try to justify their decisions. Consistency is all that teams want not inconsistency like were getting at the moment.

It funny reading this but watching the slow mo replays in the pop up window right beside it. Like most have said, 2 touches pulled toward himself and doesn't have control before the ball hits the ground. Knock on everyday. That's up there with the Slater drop kick.The bunker looks for reasons to take away fair tries but gets too technical in awarding common sense decisions.

Spot on EJ ! The Titans probably copped the two worst decisions of the year in the one match , with that O'Sullivan try and the 2 metre forwards pass for the Poasa Faamausili final try. God help us come semi-final time !

Clutching at straws... the the straws were stripped out, pushed into the pads, and dragged towards yourself with forward momentum to regain the clutched straws.

Hey Rocket. Thanks for the article. I was hoping for some compelling evidence that would support your point of view. I think most people say the first touch was back. What’s your view on the second touch? Was it simply ‘insufficient evidence to overturn the on field decision ‘?

Im a Rooster through and through , and I must admit I didn't watch the game , but if I had , id have gotten up to get a beer knowing when I came back that the Titans would have the ball and there would be no change to the scoreline. I was gunna say " the worst decisions ive seen " , but it would be in a mighty mix of bad decisions in the last few years .. The only thing that is 100%, is that, the bunker isn't worth two pinches of goat shiiiiiit.

No Try but they had less bad decisions before the bunker existed hasn't improved the correct decisions being made

Anyone suggesting that was a try loses credibility. It's not the argument of the movement of the ball between player and post. It's the fact that he scoops the ball forward with his hand off the post and it hits the ground. Clearly scooped forward, clearly hit the ground. Clearly A KNOCK ON. There is no question or doubt. A diabolical decision that makes the bunker and video reply, designed to stop the howler, a joke when they deliver howlers themselves and there have been so many this year. The fact that they also don't rule on forward passes is one of the reasons there are so many.

If you freeze the vid at the point where the ball touches the post/pad you can see his hand and fingertips are entirely on the near side of the ball. It's definitely possible that it was bounced off the post and given the on field decision was try I can see why the bunker made that call.

I can't work out how people haven't seen the second touch where he drags it from the post towards himself (ie) forward. It wasn't a try

It was an unusual try and was probably a bit hard to grasp at first. If the Roosters player caught the ball before it hit the ground he would have had a fair try but he didn't. He dragged it off the upright in a forward direction and it hit the ground. It is not a try and Sutton is correct. I'd still like to hear more about the plague of forward passes. Does the head of refs think they are getting it right on this issue because I'm seeing false tries scored each week off of forward passes and good luck to the teams who make the finals because it won't only be your good play which wins you games.