Trent Robinson, coach of the Sydney Roosters, voiced his discontent regarding a controversial try decision that he felt was pivotal in his team’s 31-18 defeat to the Cronulla Sharks. The game saw the Sharks increase their lead to 26-18 when second-rower Billy Burns scored beside the posts in the 58th minute. This try was validated by referee Todd Smith and confirmed by the Bunker without any scrutiny.
However, replays highlighted that Spencer Leniu of the Roosters made contact with Burns while the latter’s elbow was on the ground—an action that constitutes a tackle under rugby league rules. The exact moment of a tackle’s completion often leads to debates, and this situation fell into that grey area of controversy.
Robinson’s concerns about the officiating were not raised until his post-match conference, where he challenged the decision. “I wanted to ask about the try with [Burns’] elbow on the ground and Spencer’s hand on him,” he noted, expressing surprise that the officials did not review the call more closely. Disagreement arose when media clarified that the consensus was that Leniu’s hand had not touched Burns, which led Robinson to argue that it was evident and questioned the lack of intervention by the Bunker.
“It was really clear,” Robinson insisted, indicating that this incident occurred at a crucial juncture in the match when the Roosters were already dealing with significant pressure. He also pointed out the ongoing sequence of penalties against his team during that time, questioning the integrity of the decision not to overturn the try.
Roosters captain James Tedesco added to the discussion, revealing what the referee communicated during the game. Tedesco mentioned that the referee suggested he had “slipped off the tackle,” to which Tedesco responded that Leniu had indeed made contact while Burns was on the ground.
The situation has sparked discussion around the interpretation of rugby league rules and the effectiveness of the Bunker system in managing such decisions, with Robinson’s reaction highlighting the ongoing challenges teams face regarding officiating inconsistencies in high-stakes games.