NRL admits Bunker blunder in Preliminary Final

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The NRL has admitted that the try taken off Penrith’s Sunia Turuva by the Bunker on Saturday night should have been awarded.

Referee Ashley Klein awarded the try on-field but the Bunker intervened, ultimately ruling obstruction.

It sparked stinging comments from Panthers coach Ivan Cleary in his post-match press conference.

“It’s been happening all year and that worries me about next week,” Cleary said.

“The only time they scored, we should’ve scored two sets before that. It was an obstruction try which was a terrible decision and that gives me a lot of anxiety around next week.

“I shouldn’t say that but that was wrong.

“It’s been happening all year. They shouldn’t have even scored, we shouldn’t have even been down there.”

Today, Head of Football Graham Annesley said the initial call of try should have been upheld, and it was misjudged by the Bunker.

“My view of this is that although there is contact, that there is no chance, or very little chance, that if that contact hadn’t have taken place, that [Siosifa] Talakai would have prevented the try being scored,” he said.

“I don’t agree with the exercise of the judgement in this case. There’s multiple factors in this case that should have resulted in the try being confirmed.”

The call ultimately didn’t have an impact on the result, with Penrith running away to beat Cronulla 26-6.

In other Grand Final news, Melbourne forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona will front the NRL judiciary tonight in an effort to have his Careless High Tackle charge downgraded. He would need to have the charge brought down from Grade 3 to Grade 1 to be able to play in the decider on Sunday.

Troy Dodds Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.

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