Rugby league coach and content creator Axel Rawiri argued Jacob Preston should have been penalised for his late-game play at marker.
"It was a cracker of an opener to the World Cup, but it still had its controversies in it."
"Jacob Preston was not square at marker and Adam Gee didn't call it, nor did the Bunker."
"Considering how close the game was, this call needed to happen."
"I'm not saying the Kiwis aren't to blame at all, they should have been more locked in and iced that moment."
"However the rules are the rules and it should have been a penalty."
"We should have gone to golden point and who knows what would have happened from there."
Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a back-and-forth Rugby League World Cup contest, despite the Kiwis dominating much of the match.
With about 90 seconds left, Keano Kini ran into Australia's half, but New Zealand failed to get to dummy-half after the play-the-ball.
Preston picked up the loose ball from marker, prompting debate over whether he was square.
Replays appeared inconclusive, though a penalty could have given New Zealand a chance to kick for goal and level the score at 24-24.
Two social media users wrote: "Preston not even close to square. Australia get out of jail." and "Preston was not even square when he scooped up the ball."
Many commenters agreed Preston should have been penalised, while others thought the footage showed he was square and entitled to collect the ball.