Did a DCE dive rob Darius Boyd of a double?

I think John Allan was being sarcastic, surely? "Manly copped last weeks “no try” decision & moved on. ". I might have a crack at this sarcasm capper too. Clearly it couldn't have been a try (Boyd's) otherwise it would mean that Manly have got their first ever benefit from a refs decision, and it awarded them a win to boot. That just couldn't be.

2 wrongs never make a right

I think you're second to last sentence is the clincher for mine. The onfield decision was try for both the DCE and Boyd tries last night. On balance they should both have stood.

Thanks Jimmmy. Not often an internet debate ends in agreement, especially when parochial sports are involved. Thanks for entering the discussion with an open mind.

You're right Fraser, for some reason every time I freeze the video it's after Thompson makes contact. I watched it through at full speed a few times and yep he contacts for sure.

I’m starting to harp on here, but I think you need to watch the DCE try again maybe. Thompson 100% initiates contact. He comes from outside to drive his shoulder into Croft’s chest (chest is not inside) then stops in front of the line. Croft only has eyes for the ball and DCE but doesn’t get a fair opportunity to tackle him. He never commits to tackling Thompson. If he falls over, or commits to tackling Thompson it’s no try. But unfortunately he just stands there like a stunned mullet.

Sorry mate, but I disagree on the DCE try. Joel Thompson runs into Croft and basically shoulders him, and then stops in the line. Croft doesn't get a chance to move in on DCE, who he has eyes for as he sees the play unfolding. Furthermore, when DCE receives the ball he is inside Thompson, which is also against the rules for obstruction.

The DCE try has always been a fair try. The gap opens between Staggs and Croft because Staggs runs past the ball as he thinks Turbo is getting it out the back. Does the decoy run outside Croft......No he runs well inside him. Does he contact Croft....... No Does he prevent Croft from sliding across to close the gap.....Not at all. This is completely different to last week where the answer to the above is.... Yes. The Boyd try is not so easy. Is Oates outside DCE .... Yes Does he contact DCE......Yes Who initiates contact . I think DCE Does he prevent DCE from sliding to close the gap......Yes Personally I would call obstruction . IMO the onus shoukd be on the decoy to get the F out of it but really I could live with either or. If I was the video Ref I wouid let the try stand. Not conclusive enough to overcall the original decision. It's nowhere near a howler though.

It’s also interesting that point 4 and 5 was used completely ignored in Hughes bunker over rule “no try“ last week against Souths?

Rubbish interpretations. Manly had 3 defenders marking 4 Bronco attackers? Yet a good pass to an unmarked player is a poor option compared to a player milking contact because he has zero chance of preventing a try? We like to tinker with the rules of 100 years to get black and white which is inevitably gone from grey to egg yellow for the game IMO. Please don’t tell me they are consistent.

Croft did but he didn't do a dramatic dive and it was deemed a defensive decision. Despite DCE clearly catching it inside the lead runner.

Yes, outside shoulder. Tick. But DCE commits to the tackle, on a different line, knowing Oates doesn’t have the ball (which is a good 5m away and Isaako received possession 2m outside the blocker). Oates was well on his way behind the defensive line. He ends up tackling him facing his own try line. You could rule it out on just about every other point of the interpretation. Compared to the Croft one: Blocker stops in front of the line. Tick Contact on chest or outside. Tick Received inside blocker. Tick Contact initiated by attacker. Tick No deliberate change in defenders line. Tick Happy to acknowledge my potential bias as a broncos fan. But I can confidently say I am being subjective calling them as bad as each other. Although my real opinion is that both decisions were wrong.

Theatrical interpretations of acting well. My team had more than 10 tries disallowed last year for Bunker obstruction overruling ref’s call. Yet my team was consistently getting scored on by decoy plays? Come on Greeny give NIDA a call and get someone on the coaching roster. They’re all chasing work I believe.

Was Jurbo guilty of a shepherd with the Manly decoy standing in front of him and then Jurbo changing direction to go back behind the decoy? It’s Broncos defenders fault I guess for not making contact with the decoy standing in the line. If Jurbo scores they allow the try. Every player should be instructed to whack decoys with the outside shoulder. What happens if they run back behind the decoy then it could be classed as inside shoulder? It’s frustrating for supporters to have their coaches or players not milking the obstruction rules or wrestling interpretations. Experience over youth I guess. DCE won that game I feel.

It's not dissimilar to the try scored by DCE later in the game. Either both are tries or both are called back

But Oates shouldn’t have been on DCE’s outside... I think as soon as a decoy gets in front of the ball and between a defender and the ball the defence should get the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the rule needs to be looked at Fraser’s post below is the most interesting one on these incidents Your point about gamesmanship is a good one but you could also argue that sending blockers through the line isn’t what the game of rugby league is about either. Overall I’m happy with a stricter approach on these types of plays

That’s interesting that the rules says “AND initiate contact” Oates clearly ran at DCE’s outside shoulder but I don’t think anyone could remotely suggest that he initiated the contact

Thought the Broncos actually were very humble and didn’t go ref blaming at all. Just moved on.

Manly copped last weeks "no try" decision & moved on. Perhaps supporters of other teams should do the same. Broncos next opponents have a short turnaround similar to the Roosters last week. How much more help do the Broncos need? More "game time" for Alfie?

DCE tackled Oates while he was watching another bloke with the ball on his outside. If such cynical play falls into the definition of an obstruction I think that definition needs looking at.