Phil Gould expressed his frustration over a controversial grounding call that denied NSW’s Isabelle Kelly a potential equaliser during the Women’s State of Origin series finale. NSW was six points behind when Yasmin Clydsdale broke through and passed to Abbi Church, who, in turn, set up Kelly for a clear run to the line. After a moment of celebration for Kelly as she crossed over, the celebrations were quickly halted by referee Belinda Sharpe after video review suggested a problem with the grounding of the ball.
Gould was vocal in his criticism, arguing that under normal circumstances, that play would be considered a try. “I hate this interpretation,” he said, lamenting the stringent application of rules in high-stakes matches compared to other levels of rugby league. He insisted that since Kelly never lost the ball, it should have counted.
The scrutiny intensified as a replay showed Kelly’s arm was beneath the ball throughout her fall, raising further questions about the decision. Despite the ruling, Gould maintained that the interpretation of the grounding rule was overly pedantic, stating, “That is a try, that is a try. Why are we so pedantic?”
Queensland legend Darren Lockyer echoed Gould’s sentiments, noting that Kelly was in a position to score without defenders nearby, implying that the ruling was unduly harsh. He believed that mistakes like this are penalised too heavily in scenarios without disruptive defenders.
Teammate Millie Elliott, who will miss the next Origin series due to pregnancy, remarked that Kelly’s denied try would be a point of conversation for a long time. She acknowledged that, in the wet conditions, players are cautious about maintaining possession.
As the game proceeded under challenging weather conditions at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium, the NSW team faced additional setbacks with Jayme Fressard and Jessica Sergis scoring for Queensland just before halftime, resulting in a lead the Blues struggled to overcome.
In summary, the ruling against Kelly has sparked considerable debate, with Gould and Lockyer advocating for a more lenient interpretation of the grounding rule, especially in clear scoring situations.