Concerns for NRL Grand Final After Roosters Denied by Blatant Officiating Error in Prelim Loss to Storm
NRL fans and analysts are voicing serious concerns that the grand final may be influenced by a significant officiating mistake, following the Roosters’ disappointing preliminary final loss to the Storm. The Melbourne Storm secured their place in the grand final for the first time since 2020 with a convincing 48-18 victory over the Roosters.
Despite the final score, the match could have unfolded differently if not for a critical refereeing error that led to a Storm try. With the Roosters trailing by just six points at 24-18, a second-half incident drastically shifted momentum when the Storm was awarded a try under questionable circumstances, marked by a clear knock-on and an offside call.
During the match, referee Grant Atkins ruled that Roosters player Angus Crichton had knocked the ball backward, allowing Storm player Eli Katoa to collect it. However, replays indicated that the ball had actually traveled forward off Storm forward Alec McDonald’s hand, placing Katoa in an offside position when he caught the ball. This controversial ruling resulted in the Storm extending their lead to 30-18. Unfortunately for the Roosters, because the knock-on occurred in the previous tackle, the Bunker review system could not reassess the call, leading to outrage from fans and commentators alike.
The incident highlighted ongoing frustrations regarding NRL officiating standards, particularly the limitations of the Bunker system, which prevented the review of an evidently incorrect decision. Many believe this mistake effectively ended the Roosters’ hopes for a comeback. Journalist Jack Blyth expressed his apprehension on social media, stating, “It’s concerning to witness such a significant error just nine days before the grand final. Let’s hope we don’t see anything like this next week.”
Michael Ennis, speaking on Fox Sports, emphasized the critical nature of the moment, stating, “Oh geez, that was clearly a forward pass off the hands of Alec McDonald. This is a major call and a pivotal moment.” Similarly, Paul Vautin on Channel 9 pointed out, “There’s no doubt it came off MacDonald’s hands and went forward. That put a player in an offside position, and it was overlooked. After that, Melbourne scored, and we can’t go back to review that.”
Roosters fans were also frustrated earlier in the match when Jahrome Hughes avoided being sin-binned after what appeared to be a clear professional foul. As Crichton sprinted to chase a kick, Hughes stepped into his path and tripped him. While a penalty was awarded, many believed Hughes should have been sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes. This reluctance to penalize the Storm came after Nelson Asofa-Solomona had already been sin-binned for a high tackle just minutes into the game.
In addition to the concerns about Hughes’ actions, there were calls for scrutiny over Roosters player Victor Radley, who many thought should have also been sin-binned for a dangerous hip-drop tackle. Fans were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the officiating in such a high-stakes game, yet some acknowledged that the Storm had demonstrated superior skill throughout the match.
Overall, the events of the preliminary final have raised significant questions about officiating standards as the grand final approaches. With fears that similar blunders could arise, fans are left hoping that the upcoming championship game will not be marred by contentious decisions that could overshadow the players’ efforts and impact the outcome.
