Gold Coast Titans’ coach Des Hasler expressed his frustration over a contentious decision made by the Bunker in the aftermath of their inconsistent performance against Melbourne. The incident unfolded in the second half with the Titans behind 22-10 when hooker Sam Verrills attempted to score from dummy-half after Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was halted near the try line, with Storm defenders Trent Loiero and Shawn Blore on the ground in the ruck.
As Verrills picked up the ball amidst a dispute between Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, the referee initially awarded the try. However, the call was sent to the Bunker for review. Kasey Badger, the Bunker official, ultimately deemed that Verrills’ contact with Fa’asuamaleaui obstructed Papenhuyzen, leading to the no-try ruling.
Commentator Warren Smith highlighted Papenhuyzen’s enthusiastic protests during the call, while former player Michael Ennis also expressed disbelief at the decision, stating it seemed unfair. In the post-match address, Hasler firmly believed it was “the wrong decision,” citing prior discussions with the NRL regarding the rules governing players lying in the ruck. He contended that since Fa’asuamaleaui played the ball, he had the right to maintain his position in the ruck, arguing that several factors—such as the ball being on the ground and the possible infringement—should have led to either a six-again or a penalty for the Titans.
Hasler expressed eagerness to hear the NRL’s justification for the decision and suggested that the call by Badger was incorrect. Despite the controversies surrounding the Bunker’s call, Hasler conceded that his team had to take responsibility for their mistakes throughout the match.
On the other hand, Melbourne’s coach Craig Bellamy remarked that while he hadn’t closely scrutinised the decision, he felt that there was nothing particularly wrong with the initial call and emphasised the importance of trusting the referee and the Bunker’s decision-making process.
In summary, the clash underscored the frustrations surrounding on-field decisions, with both coaches making their cases known in a match that left the Titans looking for improvement in their form as they navigate the rest of the season.