A annoyed Wayne Bennett has renewed calls to scrap the bunker overview system after Trai Fuller was denied a attempt within the 14-6 loss to Newcastle, ending the Dolphins’ NRL finals hopes.
Mature-age rookie Fuller darted over on the left facet halfway by the primary half to attain what seemed to be the opening attempt of Sunday’s shootout for eighth spot at Hunter Stadium.
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However on nearer inspection, the bunker dominated Dolphins second-rower Connelly Lemuelu had impacted the skin shoulder of Knights ahead Brodie Jones and prevented him from reaching Fuller.
Newcastle ran within the subsequent two tries and in the end clinched the final spot within the prime eight, crushing the Dolphins’ hopes of a maiden finals berth of their second season.
Lemuelu had additionally contacted Jack Cogger together with his run however impacted solely the Knights’ five-eighth’s inside shoulder — not grounds for an obstruction as a result of his passage to the ball had not been blocked.
At full-time, Benett prompt it was Cogger who had obstructed Jones and never Lemuelu, livid that the attempt had not stood.
“If that is the place we’re going we’re in a good bit of bother as a result of that is a attempt each week,” stated the outgoing Dolphins coach.
“The three defender (Cogger) dedicated our participant who was operating the within shoulder, which is what he is purported to do, and the 4 defender (Jones) bumped into him and so they stated he (Lemuelu) obstructed him.
“If that is the case there can be no extra of these tries scored.
“The 4 defender will run straight into the man operating by as a result of he is aware of he’ll get a penalty … it is simply loopy. I really feel unhappy for the groups going ahead within the subsequent 4 weeks as a result of another person goes to pay the worth for it.”
An ardent critic of the bunker up to now, Bennett took one other swipe on the video overview system after his final sport earlier than rejoining South Sydney for the 2025 season.
“We do away with it (the bunker),” he stated.
“The refs used to get it unsuitable up to now, however we received on with life.
“We did not analyse it like we’re doing as we speak. (NRL soccer boss) Graham Annesley will get up each second week and apologises for one thing that went unsuitable.”
Bennett insisted his frustration was not as a result of outcome that precluded his facet from finals
“I am not complaining in regards to the reality we received overwhelmed right here as a result of it was a troublesome sport. It might have went both manner and we each performed our hearts out,” he stated.
“That is not the issue.”
AAP
