Paul Gallen has called for the NRL bunker to be “black and white” in its assessment of the outside-shoulder obstruction rule, declaring that discretion should not be involved.
But Phil Gould has branded the outside-shoulder law a “farce” and “the most ridiculous rule in rugby league”.
The rugby league icons engaged in a heated discussion on the latest episode of Nine’s 100% Footy after the Broncos were awarded a controversial try in their 16-10 win over the Bulldogs in round two.
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Brisbane’s Herbie Farnworth was granted a try despite the fact that teammate Corey Oates had run at the outside shoulder of Canterbury’s Braidon Burns and made contact.
The ball shifted through Brisbane’s left edge and, as Burns watched on helpless after being impeded, Farnworth streaked away to score.
Nine rugby league reporter Michael Chammas said he’d spoken about the incident with NRL head of football Graham Annesley, who pointed out that the bunker had “discretionary powers”.
That remark triggered Gallen’s demand.
“Discretion will change from week to week, discretion will change from bunker official to bunker official,” Gallen said.
“I want black and white.”
“These blokes are full-time athletes that train every single day to run at the right hole.”
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
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Gould is the Bulldogs’ general manager of football, but that didn’t stop him from agreeing with the bunker’s decision to hand Farnworth the try in the Sydney Olympic Park match.
“At the end of the day, I believe that’s a try. I believe the defence put itself where it wanted to, the decoy runner did (his) job, they created space for the fast man on the outside and he ran around the defence and scored a try,” Gould said.
“I think that’s what decoy runners are meant to do.
“This outside-shoulder, inside-shoulder rubbish is ridiculous.”
But despite believing tries like Farnworth’s should get the all-clear, Gould questioned the bunker’s inconsistency.
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“Every time that has occurred in the last 10 years – and I’ve blown up about it every time it’s occurred – they’ve ruled it no try,” Gould said.
“Why did they rule it a try last night if they’ve ruled it no try every other time?”
The Broncos’ win secured them back-to-back victories to begin the season, after they collected the wooden spoon in 2020 and finished 14th last year.
The second-round match was prized recruit Adam Reynolds’ first in the Brisbane strip.
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