Fans lashed out at NRL officials during Sunday’s grand final, claiming Melbourne had been ‘robbed’ after referees ruled Jack Howarth had held up a try after crossing the line in the second half.
On some live replays, fans claimed the ball appeared to be grounded through central Melbourne during their 14-6 defeat to Penrith.
Yet the NRL moved quickly to prove the video officials were right when they ruled the try and instead ruled the ball was held over the line.
Several NRL commentators and journalists had been shown individual images that fans watching on Channel Nine were initially unable to see.
Danika Mason said on Channel Nine: ‘I’ve just gone in and some of the media have been shown another angle of the attempt that the bunker would clearly have been aware of.
“They did say that it looked like the bunker had received the call correctly in that case.”
The new footage, which has since been published on X (formerly Twitter), appears to show an arm under the ball as Howarth makes his way over the try line.
Johnathan Thurston, speaking on Channel Nine, added: ‘Well Freddy said they have 23 out of 24 camera angles so there is a video on social media showing the ball on the ground but as Freddy said they have there every corner.
“If they say it isn’t, you have to agree with it.”
Fans were divided online when they saw Channel Nine’s reporting over whether the ball was fairly grounded, with some claiming it was a try.
Another added: ‘Lol didn’t the bunker see the ball hit the ground.’
“@NRL is making sure NSW bias is as strong as ever,” one person claimed.
“Storm got ripped off 100 percent in one go,” one person wrote.
Another said: ‘NRL Grand Final. Bulls*** bunker.”
Fans have lashed out at officials after Jack Howarth had a try disallowed during the NRL Grand Final
But reporter Scott Bailey stated that the media had been shown convincing footage that it was not an attempt and claimed that broadcasters should show the same footage that bunker reviewers see.
“If there was ever an argument for broadcasters to show what the bunker sees, that was it,” Bailey wrote on X. “The NRL has shown media footage that clearly shows Howarth did not put the ball on the ground. But that’s difficult for anyone who has just turned off the TV.’
NewsWire’s Martin Gabor said: ‘Fair play to the NRL. We were shown a high definition replay and it makes no sense if the ball hits the ground. Jack Howarth did NOT score. At the time I thought it was definitely an attempt.’
But the NRL has now provided footage showing the ball was held on the line
Melbourne had taken the lead in the first half, with Harry Grant taking the lead in the opening twenty minutes. Sunia Turuva would then crash in the corner before Liam Martin powered into Penrith’s third before half time.
After Howarth’s effort was denied, Penrith pressed the Storm defenders harder, with Paul Alamoti diving forward to seal a 14–6 win and Penrith’s fourth consecutive premiership title.