Legends rip Bunker for 'defensive decision' try

The Bunker has been taken to task successful the NRL expansive final aft an adjudication connected an obstruction telephone that near respective experts baffled.

With Penrith holding an 18-0 pb astatine half-time, the archetypal effort of the 2nd fractional loomed arsenic a pivotal one, and it was the reigning premiers who extended their pb with Brian To'o's 2nd effort of the night.

However, the effort looked similar it would beryllium chalked disconnected owed to Viliame Kikau bowling implicit Mitch Moses successful the lead-up.

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Despite the incidental being termed arsenic a "straightforward" obstruction telephone from Cameron Smith connected commentary for Nine, referee Ashley Klein's on-field telephone was a effort owed to his ruling that Moses made "a antiaircraft decision", choosing to tackle Kikau.

Viliame Kikau bowled implicit Mitchell Moses arsenic Jarome Luai proceeded to plaything the shot to the near broadside of the tract (Nine)

The Bunker upheld Klein's decision, leaving Smith, Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler each confused.

"That's a penalty. Kikau doesn't springiness Mitchell Moses the accidental to spell connected the wrong and slide," Johns said connected Nine's coverage.

"All twelvemonth that has been a no-try, and yet successful the biggest crippled of the twelvemonth we marque it up and alteration it."

"That one's beauteous achromatic and white, it's straightforward," Smith added.

Eels skipper Clint Gutherson was livid with the determination but his protestation to referee Ashley Klein fell connected deaf ears (Getty)

"Although helium (Moses) whitethorn person played for it slightly, Kikau makes interaction with his extracurricular shoulder. This has been ruled against teams each year. It can't beryllium a try."

"The players cognize they person to spell to the wrong shoulder," Fittler said.

"You spot Mitchell Moses, helium was pursuing the shot erstwhile helium looked up to marque the play erstwhile the shot was passed, Kikau was successful beforehand of him.

"He mightn't person got to the ball, but what Kikau did was helium got successful the roadworthy and obstructed his presumption of what was happening connected the outside, truthful helium obstructed him."

The effort virtually ended immoderate hopes of an Eels comeback, with Charlie Staines adding different effort 13 minutes aboriginal to hitch brackish successful the Parramatta wound.

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