Footy star Ryan Papenhuyzen has lashed out at NRL officials after his side were left stunned by the Canberra Raiders on Sunday night.
Comeback kings Canberra sealed a last gasp 20-18 in a golden point victory in one of the most controversial finishes in NRL history.
Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th-minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young in front of the posts.
The Storm looked set for a Magic Round victory in regulation time.
Leading 18-12, Storm fullback Papenhuyzen, in his 100th NRL game, appeared to have slotted a field goal in the 75th minute to seal the win.
The one-point was disallowed due to Loiero being penalised while possession for an elbow to the head of Raiders prop Joe Topine in a previous play after referee Gerard Sutton appeared to ask the Bunker for a review.
Ryan Papenhuyzen has fumed at officials following his side’s controversial late defeat by Canberra Raiders
Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th-minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero (second from left) was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young
The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu (second from left) was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling
Three minutes later Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes scored a stunning individual try. From 50m out he raced away, chipped over Papenhuyzen’s head, regathered and scored to send the match into golden point.
The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling when his team was in front of the sticks.
And reflecting on both infractions, Papenhuyzen fumed that his side were simply just trying to play the ball quickly and play out the match.
‘We’re playing Rugby League, Zane,’ he told ABC Sport’s Zane Bojack after full-time when speaking on whether the team had discipline issues.
‘You’re trying to get a quick play of the ball.’
Papenhuyzen added: ‘It’s a tough thing to swallow.
‘He’s [Utoikamanu] going to be on report for that and watch him get off it… Probably shouldn’t have said that…’
Raiders prop Josh Papalii was binned for running in and getting involved.
Utoikamanu was also sent to the sin bin following the controversial moment, with Cameron Munster (left) remonstrating with the referee
Young (right) celebrates with the rest of his team after the side were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on the Raiders star
Fogarty then stepped up to win it with a pressure penalty.
Scintillating Storm winger Sua Fa’alogo earlier shone.
The final Magic Round clash lived up to its billing as the match of the round with both sides inside the top four.
Pocket rocket Fa’alogo set up two tries, scored one and made three line breaks in a dazzling display.
The Raiders refused to relent. They had come back from an 18-point deficit to win their previous clash with the Dolphins.
They were behind 14-0 after 25 minutes against the Storm and again rallied to narrow the margin to two at halftime.
Melbourne had given up a 16-2 lead to lose 42-22 to the Dolphins the last time they played at the venue and would have had a sense of deja vu.
Fa’alogo’s try in the 59th minute restored a six-point advantage.
Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty slotted a game-winning penalty in the 85th minute
Papenhuyzen said that the defeat ‘was a tough one to swallow’ as he reflected on the loss
In the first half Cameron Munster eyed space on the left after a scything Faalogo bust. His left-foot kick was precision personified and centre Grant Anderson swooped.
Faalogo set up a try for Papenhuyzen with a play of pure audacity and scintillating skill. The speedy winger broke down the right from 70m out and at full speed hooked an inch-perfect kick onto a flying Papenhuyzen’s chest. It was Magic Round magic.
The Raiders, however, are never beaten.
Hulking Raiders winger Savelio Tamale, who had a blinder, got the better of Fa’alogo with brute strength to score in the corner.
Raiders centre Matt Timoko was too strong and determined for three Storm defenders as he scored and it was game on at the break.
There was plenty of feeling between two rivals with a history of titanic battles. Two skirmishes between multiple players broke out before Utoikamanu and Tapine exchanged open-handed shoves with the Storm giant penalised while in possession.
Papalii was also put on report for foul play after he gave Papenhuyzen a facial.
After the match, Bellamy vented: ‘Our discipline probably cost us.’
On whether his side were wrongly penalised in the final moments of the game, the Storm boss responded: ‘You can take that as you like.’
He refused to pin the blame on officials, adding: ‘I don’t know who was the instigator… at the end of the day you can’t be giving the ball away in those positions.’
‘I only had a look at it once so I’m not exactly sure what happened but to turn the ball over 15 metres from their line, if he was in the wrong, he needs to pick his discipline up.
‘It’s unlike anyone. You show me a bloke who gives away two players who give the ball away in the game. You’re not looking at too many people. It doesn’t happen often.’
