The South Sydney Rabbitohs faced an unexpected end to their season after a surprising loss to the Newcastle Knights during the NRL finals. Head coach Wayne Bennett expressed strong criticism of the video referee system, commonly known as "the bunker."
Controversy surrounded the match, with several moments perceived as unfavorable to the Rabbitohs, who finished sixth in the standings and were set to host the Knights.
Following the game, Bennett described two pivotal decisions that troubled him. He remarked on the confusion surrounding who was in charge during pivotal moments-the match officials or the bunker-and pointed out that the rules have become overly intricate.
One critical incident involved Alex Johnston, where the ball seemed to be knocked from his grasp but was instead deemed a knock-on against South Sydney. The other contentious moment was related to a try awarded to the Knights, where Dominic Young's foot appeared to hover dangerously close to the sideline.
Bennett stated, "Well, the quicker they get rid of the bunker, the happier I'll be" during the post-match briefing.
He added that he had witnessed similar situations previously and believed that anyone familiar with the sport would recognize the apparent knock-on against Newcastle. After the referee ruled a try, it was overturned upon bunker review.
In the case of Young's sideline play, Bennett expressed frustration with the decision-making process, questioning who ultimately held authority over the game: the referee or the video officials. "You can look at that 50 times and everyone can come up with a different opinion," he concluded.