Andrew Johns, a Knights legend, expressed his frustration following a controversial try awarded to the Cowboys, which he believed involved an obstruction in the build-up. The Knights suffered a heavy defeat, finishing the match at 38-4.
In the second half, while the Cowboys were holding a 20-0 lead, they launched an attack from halfway. The play unfolded with the ball being passed swiftly through the hands until Jake Clifford found Scott Drinkwater. During this play, Jeremiah Nanai ran into the outside shoulder of Jake Arthur, who was attempting to defend.
Despite concerns from Johns and others, the referee deemed that Arthur had made an effective defensive decision, which led to the try being awarded. Johns anticipated that the Bunker would overturn the decision, stating, “I think this was an obstruction for sure.” The Bunker, however, upheld the try, allowing the Cowboys to extend their lead further.
Former Kangaroos coach Billy Slater commented on the ruling, suggesting that the officials were attempting to ascertain the defender’s perspective in their decision-making process. Meanwhile, Knight Dane Gagai was seen in a heated exchange with the referee, who clarified that the ruling focused on Arthur’s defensive actions, which created an overlap for the Cowboys.
Johns continued to argue the case, emphasising that Arthur appeared unaware of Nanai’s movement, stating, “That’s an obstruction.” He also expressed a need for the NRL to include former players or coaches with in-depth knowledge of defensive strategies in their decision-making process to improve the accuracy of rulings.
The Cowboys dominated the first half, scoring tries through Drinkwater, Tom Dearden, and Braidon Burns, along with a penalty goal. They continued their strong performance in the second half, with Purdue scoring first, and the Knights finally responded with a try from Dom Young. Nonetheless, the Cowboys sealed their victory with late tries from Nanai and Drinkwater, culminated in a resounding 38-4 win.