The fallout from the Bulldogs’ thrilling but controversial win over the Warriors has continued with a no penalty call at the end of the game labelled as potentially ‘grand final defining’.
The NRL admitted the error on Monday afternoon when head of football Graham Annesley said it was “unacceptable” that the Bunker missed a late and high shot from Bulldogs forward Jaeman Salmon on Warriors’ Te Maire Martin.
A penalty would have given the Warriors a shot at goal right in front and a golden chance to hit the lead late.
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Instead, the game went to golden point level at 12, with the Bulldogs kicking an 87th minute field goal to win.
Salmon copped a two-match suspension for the hit as well as sustaining a broken jaw in the tackle.
Fox Sports’ Paul Crawley blasted the decision, believing it’s a cop out to call it a mistake.
“It wasn’t a mistake. It was a conscious decision and I say that because there was a stoppage in play when this happened,” Crawley said on NRL360.
“Six minutes to go he (Martin) gets hit late and high.
“Salmon goes off with a broken jaw, there was ample opportunity for that to be reviewed.
“You couldn’t have missed what happened in that tackle.
“It was a penalty every day of the week yet when the game was on the line they chose to ignore it.
“It’s completely understandable if the ref misses that in the heat of the moment, but for the Bunker to not make that crucial decision with the match on the line, that’s a decision.
“That’s going to water when the big calls are there to be made.”
Crawley then referenced his interview with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett over the state of officiating in today’s game.
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“This is exactly what Bennett was blowing up about a couple of weeks ago, the inconsistency of these calls. He said every high shot that isn’t accidental should be a penalty. That had to be a penalty,” Crawley continued.
“The context of the Warriors season, that could cost them a place in the finals.”
NRL360 co-host Braith Anasta said it’s a common sense decision that had to be made.
“They had minutes to make that call. There was a stoppage because both players were injured,” he said.
“It’s not about fixing it, that’s common sense.
“I think even Bulldogs fans would agree. I was going for the Bulldogs, I wanted them to win, but I thought ‘hang on, that’s a penalty’.
The win keeps the Bulldogs one win outside of the top four while the loss leaves the Warriors on 17 points. Had they won, they’d be one point outside of the top eight.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio believes it could have massive repercussions on the Warriors’ finals push.
“It’s cost the Warriors. We all know that,” Riccio said.
“I hate using the example of if this was in a grand final, it would cost someone a grand final, because every game is just as important but that could be grand final defining.”
“It’s such a shame because it overshadowed a great game of footy,” Crawley added.