League legend Phil Gould has expressed his displeasure with NRL officiating after New South Wales was penalised for a tackle during a catching contest in the under-19s Origin match. With Queensland leading by one point and just two minutes remaining, Queensland’s five-eighth Javon Andrews kicked the ball towards the corner. Sam Stephenson jumped to catch it over Blues winger Luke Laulilii and offloaded the ball, but Queensland was stopped short of scoring.
To the disappointment of the Blues, the referee penalised Laulilii for a tackle on Stephenson in mid-air. Despite NSW’s challenge to overturn the decision, the penalty stood, prompting a furious reaction from Gould, who described the interpretation of the rule as “absolutely ludicrous” during an interview on Nine. He questioned the rationale behind the ruling, suggesting it deviated from traditional rugby league.
Gould highlighted a similar incident from Origin I, where player Brian To’o was sin-binned for a comparable offence, remarking on the inconsistency in officiating. NSW coach Brad Fittler supported Laulilii’s actions, asserting that defenders must have the right to protect their line and that allowing attackers clear scoring opportunities without challenge contradicts the essence of the game.
Gould’s frustration escalated as he called for accountability from those responsible for the rule’s interpretation, stating that the situation needs addressing publicly. Queensland eventually secured a narrow victory, finishing the match with a one-point lead.