The contentious disruptor rule made headlines again during a match between the Roosters and Sharks in Perth, where a potential try by Robert Toia was disallowed. In the latter stages of the second half, a dropped kick from Sam Stonestreet, following a collision with Toia, appeared to narrow the Sharks’ lead to 16-10. However, the Bunker intervened, declaring the attempt a no-try due to Toia’s early contact with Stonestreet.
This decision drew loud boos from the crowd at Optus Stadium, as Roosters coach Trent Robinson and team mentor Michael Cheika reacted in disbelief. Captain James Tedesco contended that the call was excessively precise, suggesting that it had been evaluated down to the millisecond. Fox League commentator Greg Alexander expressed skepticism about whether Stonestreet was in a suitable position to catch the ball, highlighting the ambiguity surrounding the disruptor rule.
The ruling shifted the momentum, enabling the Sharks to score again through Tom Hazelton just moments later. Alexander later compared the incident to a recent controversial disruptor call involving Gehamat Shibasaki, indicating ongoing confusion and debate over the interpretation of the rule.
Roosters premiership winner Cooper Cronk was particularly critical during the halftime analysis, questioning the merits of the Bunker decision. He argued that minimal contact should not impede an elite player’s ability to catch a ball, suggesting that the current standards might be rewarding subpar performances. He firmly dismissed the idea that Toia’s slight touch could be classified as disruption.
Despite the tumultuous moment, the Roosters managed to score throughout the match, ultimately losing 34-22, meaning the disruptor call did not determine the game’s final outcome.