Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy expressed his differing perspective on the Bunker’s decision to overturn a pivotal try by Eli Katoa during the team’s unexpected defeat to the Dragons. Initially awarded by referee Peter Gough, the try was disallowed by Kasey Badger due to a perceived knock-on in Katoa’s challenge with Kyle Flanagan.
The fallout from this decision was significant, as the Dragons secured a penalty on the subsequent set, allowing Jacob Liddle to score the match-winning try. In a post-match interview, Bellamy remarked that the Bunker had a challenging second half and acknowledged having a different viewpoint regarding the Katoa try. He indicated his intention to review additional angles of the incident for further clarity.
Following the game, both Katoa and Storm captain Harry Grant showed their disagreement with the ruling. Grant noted that they may have celebrated prematurely before being informed about the try being nullified, but acknowledged the situation was now beyond their control. He recognised that the team needed to focus on performing better in future plays and avoid lingering on missed opportunities, which hindered their performance.
The controversial call was seen as potentially overhauling the game’s momentum and contributed to the Dragons’ victory. Furthermore, Bellamy mentioned it was unproductive to complain about the officiating decisions, accepting that the outcome was now set in stone.
This defeat continued a troubling trend for the Storm against the Dragons, marking their second consecutive loss to the team and representing a rare instance in which the Dragons achieved back-to-back wins over Melbourne. Historically, the Storm have struggled in recent encounters at Kogarah, having lost four of their last five matches there, and under coach Shane Flanagan, the Dragons have managed to claim victory in six of their last eight contests against the Storm.