Broncos coach Michael Maguire has expressed his astonishment at the decision made by the Bunker to penalise Gehamat Shibasaki for being a disruptor, which played a pivotal role in their recent loss to the Cowboys. With just 16 minutes remaining in the match, the Broncos were ahead 34-24 following a try by Brendan Piakura, only for it to be disallowed due to Shibasaki allegedly interfering with Tom Chester during a dropped kick.
On Nine’s commentary, ex-players Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith both remarked on the perplexing nature of the ruling, with Thurston calling it merely a “clean drop.” Maguire argued that Chester had a clear view of the ball throughout the incident and was certainly entitled to catch it. “I can understand if Shibasaki challenged Chester’s line of sight with arms raised, but he didn’t obstruct him in any way,” Maguire noted, expressing his confusion at the ruling and demanding consistency in future officiating.
Maguire’s disbelief extended to the game’s other contentious calls. After half-time, Cory Paix was removed for a head injury assessment (HIA) deemed a category one incident by the independent doctor. His substitute, Blake Mozer, left the field just ten minutes later due to a suspected fractured jaw while attempting to tackle Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo. Although Mozer was struggling but later classified as a category two concussion, Maguire questioned the decisions made regarding both players.
“It’s bewildering, especially since Paix felt ready to return,” Maguire commented, noting that Paix was in the change room and believed he could go back on. “It’s perplexing for him; he can’t understand it. Yet, we’re also concerned that Blake may have a serious injury.”
Former player Paul Gallen also weighed in on the disallowed try, voicing his strong disagreement with the call. He labelled it a “poor decision” and believed it should have stood as a legitimate try. The day’s events highlighted the ongoing debates within the NRL regarding consistency and clarity in officiating standards, leaving coaches and fans alike questioning the integrity of critical match decisions.