LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
NRL fans are expressing their frustration once again regarding officiating after a crucial try by the Broncos against the Cowboys on Saturday night, which stemmed from what seemed to be a clear forward pass. Reece Walsh showcased a performance filled with both striking plays and mistakes as the Broncos pushed into the top-four with a 38-30 win.
Fortunately for Brisbane, Walsh's performance leaned more towards brilliance than blunders. He continued his impressive streak for the fourth consecutive week, contributing with one try, two assists, and breaking through tackles ten times. Moreover, he assisted five line-breaks and gained an impressive 195 metres from 20 runs, in addition to converting five out of seven attempts successfully.
Nonetheless, the match was not without its share of controversy, particularly regarding one of the Broncos' three tries scored in the second half, with Walsh again playing a pivotal role by providing a line-break assist. Gehamat Shibasaki raced downfield after receiving a well-timed pass from Walsh, but his final pass back inside to Billy Walters appeared to have originated forward. "That looked forward," commented Andrew Voss on Fox League.
Phil Gould on Channel 9 echoed that sentiment, saying, "Did no-one see that? Oh my god. Run onto that." Brad Fittler added, "It ends up going forward but no-one sees it."
This contentious play gave the Broncos a 32-24 lead and proved crucial as the Cowboys later scored again, closing the gap. Additional questions arose regarding a pass Walsh threw to Shibasaki for the Broncos' fifth try, adding to the drama of the match.
On social media, fans expressed their outrage, especially following a recent incident where Alex Johnston scored for the Rabbitohs after receiving an unmistakably forward pass. Former Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend was among many who criticized the decision to validate Walters' try while neglecting to call the earlier pass forward.