Fans lashed out at NRL officials during Sunday’s Grand Final, claiming that Melbourne were ‘robbed’ after referees deemed Jack Howarth had a second-half try held up after crossing the line.
On some live replays, fans claimed that the ball appeared to have been grounded by the Melbourne centre, during their 14-6 defeat against Penrith.
Yet, the NRL has quickly taken steps to prove that video officials were right to chalk the try and instead rule the ball was held up over the line.
Several commentators and journalists from the NRL world had been shown separate footage that fans watching on Channel Nine were not initially able to see.
Speaking on Channel Nine, Danika Mason said: ‘I just went inside and some of the media have been shown another angle of the try which obviously the bunker would have been privy to.
‘They actually did say that it looks as though the bunker got the call right in that instance.’
The new footage, which has since been published on X (formerly Twitter) appears to show an arm under the ball as Howarth bundles his way over the try line.
Johnathan Thurston, speaking on Channel Nine, added: ‘Well, Freddy said they got 23 of 24 camera angles so there’s a video on social media that’s showing the ball on the ground but as Freddy mentioned, they’ve got every angle there.
‘If they say it’s not down then you’ve got to go with it.’
Fans were split online, upon viewing Channel Nine’s coverage, over whether the ball had been grounded fairly, with some claiming that it was a try.
Another added: ‘Lol didnt the bunker see the ball touched the ground.’
‘@NRL ensuring that the NSW bias is as strong as ever,’ one claimed.
‘Storm ripped off 100 per cent a try,’ one wrote.
Another said: ‘NRL Grand Final. Bulls*** bunker.’
Fans have lashed out at officials after Jack Howarth was disallowed a try during the NRL Grand Final
But reporter Scott Bailey stated that the media had been shown conclusive footage that it was not a try and claimed that broadcasters should show the same footage that bunker review officers see.
‘If ever there was an argument for broadcasters to show what the bunker sees, that was it,’ Bailey wrote on X. ‘The NRL have shown media footage that clearly shows Howarth did not ground the ball. But that’s a tough sell to everyone who just turned off the TV.’
Martin Gabor of NewsWire said: ‘Fair play to the NRL. We’ve been shown a high-resolution replay and there is no point when the ball touches the ground. Jack Howarth did NOT score. I thought it was definitely a try at the time.’
But the NRL has since provided footage showing that the ball was held up on the line
Melbourne had taken the lead in the first half, with Harry Grant bundling over in the opening 20 minutes. Sunia Turuva would then crash over in the corner before Liam Martin drove over for Penrith’s third before half-time.
After Howarth’s try was denied, Penrith pressed harder on the Storm defenders, with Paul Alamoti diving over to seal a 14-6 victory and Penrith’s fourth-straight premiership title.