NRL 2023: ’Dodgy’ call rocks Warriors, forward pass debate, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason Saab

The Warriors came back to claim a stunning 29-22 win but it wasn’t without controversy going both ways.

It was an attacking arm-wrestle in the first half with seven tries and another two disallowed — one to each side — in a wild opening stanza.

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The Warriors led 16-6 after 17 minutes but Manly hit back as Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab completed a first half hat-trick with tries in the 18th, 29th and 37th minutes.

However, the third try which had plenty of questions over it from both fans and Fox League commentators Michael Ennis and Dan Ginnane.

As the Sea Eagles attacked the right-edge of the Warriors the final pass from Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans appearing to go forward.

Ennis said the Cherry-Evans pass “looked forward”, which Ginnane and the Warriors faithful agreed with judging by the jeers from the crowd.

“Cherry-Evans and Saab laughing, they couldn’t believe their luck,” Ennis added.

“Yeah, that’s a bad call, that’s a bad one,” Ginnane said after seeing another replay.

Another replay looked as though the ball may have brushed one of Haumole Olakau’atu Olakau’atu’s hands as well, although there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn on the video for the bunker official.

Ginnane pondered whether it would be “fingernail Olakau’atu”.

“It clearly came off the finger of Olakau’atu didn’t it?” Ennis asked.

“Looks like it,” Ginnane replied.

Fans also had questions about Sea Eagles centre Morgan Harper, who ran straight into Adam Pompey and knocked him to the ground, despite not making a play at the ball.

But the try was confirmed by the bunker.

Ennis said it looked as though the ball’s rotation didn’t deviate as it went past Olakau’atu and the forward pass couldn’t be called back by the bunker under current rules.

At halftime, James Graham said: “For me, it looked as if it did touch the hand of Olakau’atu and the ball has travelled forward and then hit the ground.

“I think the average punter watching at home would accept the decision of no try on the basis of that being ruled a knock on.”

He said it was similar to the Jack Wighton situation against the Tigers two weeks ago, which NRL boss Graham Annesley said was “a forward pass”.

But Greg Alexander argued it wasn’t like the Raiders one, calling it “flat” and arguing “it bounced forward”.

Social media appeared to agree with Graham however, railing against the bunker call.

Warriors fans were also fuming after an obstruction was ruled in the 26th minute when Daly Cherry-Evans was hit by the lead runner Jackson Ford in what would have been Luke Metcalf’s try.

Ginnane argued that it was a straightforward decision despite the fact Cherry-Evans “probably wouldn’t have made a difference”.

Warriors captain Tohu Harris argued: “He’s made the decision to stop.” Cherry-Evans appeared to have made the decision to make the tackle — or at least take the hit instead of sliding out.

Minutes later, the Sea Eagles were denied by the bunker after Reuben Garrick was denied by the bunker as it was ruled Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had beaten the Sea Eagle to the ball.

It’s about as close as it could be but the bunker ruled the Warrior got to the ball first, with Garrick fuming as it was ruled a dropout.

The second half was much different to the first as the Warriors scored a try early before the match went down to the wire.

A controversial moment saw Garrick land on the flat of his back after jumping to catch a charge down from Nicoll-Klokstad and the Warriors fullback hit his legs.

But while many believed it would be a penalty, referee Todd Smith ruled that the tackled in the air rule didn’t apply because it was a bouncing ball rather than off a kick.

As Garrick had knocked on, it meant the Warriors had a scrum and scored off the next set when Marata Niukore burst through the line and charged to score.

The Sea Eagles needed the win as already the club is relying on other results to go their way if they can sneak into the top 8.

The loss essentially ends the Sea Eagles’ season.

Originally published as ‘How the hell?’: New Zealand erupts over ‘dodgy’ forward pass drama