Just two weeks out from the finals, the NRL is set to make changes to the bunker process after an error cost the Sydney Roosters a try on Saturday night.
Head of football Graham Annesley said a disagreement between bunker officials over whether there was an obstruction in the lead-up play resulted in the wrong decision.
The “no try” call did not cost the Roosters in their 42-12 win over Newcastle, but it’s not the first instance this season the bunker has got an obvious call wrong.
Roosters forward Nat Butcher played the ball and stood in the defensive line, but had no room to move as the Knights were parked on their own goal line when Lindsay Collins scored.
“Using the common term of pub test in this, there’s just no way this stands up under scrutiny as an obstruction,” Annesley said.
On Monday, Annesley said he would need final approval from the ARL commission to make changes to the in-house bunker process but would not elaborate on what they were.
Senior review official Jared Maxwell and former player Beau Scott disagreed over the obstruction call in the bunker on Saturday night.
“As a result of that disagreement they came up with the wrong decision, in my view,” Annesley said.
“I think it should have been a try.
“I think it should have been a try today, tomorrow, Saturday and every day of the week.
“But it was an error by the bunker caused by a disagreement, or differing views.”
Over the next few days Annesley will make moves internally to make improvements, which ideally will have no impact on how the public see the bunker operate.
“What I hope to get to is a position where the general public notice no difference whatsoever,” Annesley said.
“In terms of the outcome of the process, that will be no different.
“But we can look at the internal process … and whether those processes need to change or be fine-tuned to give us a better chance of getting these sorts of decisions right.”
Meanwhile, the NRL will analyse the rules around the captain’s challenge at the end of the season as part of their annual review.
On Friday night Penrith lost a challenge when no camera angles could provide evidence a ball had not been stripped from Parramatta’s Blake Ferguson.
The ruling was correct under the letter of the law, which states if the decision cannot be determined by the bunker it is deemed unsuccessful.
But it’s the first time this season the rule has been exposed and Annesley said it could be tweaked.
“When we put the rules around the captain’s challenge together we had to contemplate all possible scenarios,” he said.
“I don’t know that we contemplated not being able to determine with some degree of certainty which way the decision should go.”
There has been 230 captain’s challenges in 2020 with 41 per cent of decisions overturned.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Get Dan Andrews in there. He has plenty of time after his morning press conferences. He gets everything right, has his own finance institution and best of all ,his own police force to inforce his rulings.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Baz, I like the Captain's Challenge if only to see players going up to the Ref waving their arms & complaining only to be asked "are you challenging?" (verb not adjective) and basically be told to piss off when they say no. I think that's classic and removes a lot of that poor behaviour.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Ads, yep pretty sure "and check the grounding" is the last thing they say before "thanks mate"
Paul
Roar Guru
" I think the NRL forgets that perfect is the enemy of good. " Excellent comment, Adam
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Go back to the old days when the referee reffed the game by the rules not interpretations.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
So, reduce the numbers in the bunker will reduce the errors.
Big Daddy
Guest
Annesely's idea of revamping the bunker means the same guys are there again next week. Nothing will change.
Adam
Roar Guru
Yeah his words were ridiculous. The decision to not award a try was hardly earth shattering. I'm quite sure ive seen other tries not given in the same situation as well
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I must be slowing down. Took me a while to get that grammatical correction.... :laughing: :laughing: :thumbup: BTW;- But it’s a terrible look considering the call cost no one really. It’s just nonsensical, it was the wrong call, probably, but hardly worthy of an overhaul of anything, Absolutely correct and well said.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
:crying: :crying: yeah old enough to have National service registration for Vietnam.
Adam
Roar Guru
Bunker fowl ups you mean? But it's a terrible look considering the call cost no one really. It's just nonsensical, it was the wrong call, probably, but hardly worthy of an overhaul of anything
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Sad how that looks. I'm not convinced it is out and out intentional but it's not a good look. Rules bent for certain players, financial magics apparently unchecked, refs actually changing important calls on the run in the midst of a major game, untold bunker fouls-ups ignored until... It's not good for the League to have this perception around a particular club.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I couldn't say that 'coz I'm usually guilty of chook bashing. ... but...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:silly: :boxing:
Kramer
Guest
Could not agree more. The warriors have been dudded many times but not a whisper from Annesley. It’s predictable who the favourites are...
Woody
Guest
You only need two in the bunker, just get them experienced at "rock, paper,scissors".
Adam
Roar Guru
Some would say it was because it was the Roosters or something....
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
As I said in recent Bunker post “It‘s the Vibe”
Adam
Roar Guru
Get some new clicks :laughing:
Adam
Roar Guru
Then everyone will be getting off with a hung jury. They'll have to go back to the referee with questions to break the deadlock