LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Jamie Soward has spearheaded a wave of criticism regarding the current state of some rules in the NRL, responding to controversial incidents in two games on Saturday. Controversy emerged during the Dragons vs. Sharks and Roosters vs. Dolphins matches, particularly over refereeing decisions that left fans and commentators bewildered.
The first contentious moment involved a penalty try awarded to Cronulla. The Bunker official determined that Tyrell Sloan tackled Teig Wilton in the air, preventing him from scoring. Sloan had tried to catch the ball and ended up holding Wilton over the line when he fell. However, the official ruled that Sloan had purposefully shifted from attempting to catch the ball to tackling Wilton, a judgement that seemed unreasonable in such a quick moment. This decision deviated from the precedent established throughout the year, where similar incidents typically resulted in penalties or sin-bins rather than penalty tries.
Reacting on social media, Soward blasted the NRL and its officials, stating they have "officially lost the plot." He remarked: "WHAT A JOKE. No contact on kickers. No contest in the air. What are we doing?"
In commentary for Fox League, renowned premiership winners Kevin Walters and Steve Roach expressed their disbelief. Walters stated, "Come on. That is breaking new ground now," in reference to the ruling. Roach added, "That is a ridiculous try being awarded there. That is terrible. It wasn't dangerous. One of the great things about the game is not only those who score the tries, but the blokes who can stop them."
Despite his team securing a 22-14 victory, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan voiced frustration. He mentioned he would have "a busy day on Monday (speaking to the NRL) because it's making it so hard on us," and acknowledged feeling "really disappointed with a lot of decisions."