The Canberra Raiders secured a narrow 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Storm on Friday night, but coach Ricky Stuart expressed his frustrations with the refereeing decisions, particularly concerning the NRL’s video review system known as the Bunker. Despite praising his team’s performance as their best of the season, Stuart’s mood soured after two pivotal tries were overturned following lengthy reviews.
The first incident involved Hudson Young, who appeared to score when the Raiders were ahead 12-0, but the try was disallowed due to an unintentional offside. A late try from Zac Hosking was similarly cancelled after the Bunker ruled that Young had tackled Storm fullback Sua Fa’alogo high moments earlier.
Stuart conveyed his disappointment regarding the increasing negativity surrounding scoring plays due to the scrutiny of decisions by the Bunker. He noted a shift in emotional response when a try is scored—once celebrated with exuberance, it is now often met with trepidation as players and fans alike await the outcome of video checks.
The head of football, Graham Annesley, had previously acknowledged that last round’s Bunker decisions were overly intricate, suggesting that certain calls could have been avoided. Stuart pointed out that the interpretation of ruck play during the match differed from previous encounters this season, leading to confusion and inconsistency in officiating.
“It would be beneficial to know if this is our new standard or if we’re reverting back to an earlier style,” he remarked regarding the varied approaches to the ruck. While he welcomed the change to a faster game, he expressed a desire for consistency across matches.
Wayne Bennett, commenting on the new ruck interpretation prior to South Sydney’s match against St George Illawarra, offered his endorsement, seeing it as a positive change that brings excitement to the game and avoids past grapple tackles that hampered play.
Injuries also loom large for the Raiders, with Stuart confirming that prop Josh Papalii is likely to miss their upcoming clash against the Wests Tigers due to a calf injury sustained in the latest match.
In summary, while the victory was celebrated, the ongoing concerns with officiating and the Bunker’s influence on gameplay have cast a shadow over the Raiders’ performance and the wider NRL landscape, leaving coaches and fans seeking clarity and consistency.