Bronson Xerri was adamant the ball was stripped. Ryan Couchman – and every St George Illawarra fan inside Allegiant Stadium – was convinced it was a loose carry by Xerri.
As for the NRL, the call was so tight that sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly said the bunker would not have had sufficient evidence to over-rule the original decision.
Bronson Xerri is stripped of the ball.Credit: Nine
The controversial penalty awarded to Xerri by referee Grant Atkins in the 89th minute of Sunday’s golden-point thriller was the biggest talking point out of the season opener in Las Vegas, with the Dogs allowed to march downfield and set up captain Stephen Crichton for the winning field-goal with six seconds left on the clock.
Furious Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said afterwards: “It’s a loose carry every day of the week, without a doubt. We didn’t get the rub of the green, that’s for sure.”
But Xerri insisted the right call had been made, revealing the Bulldogs had worked on their ball control over the summer.
“It was definitely a strip, I was confident, and if they had ruled it was a knock-on, I would have definitely told ‘Critta’ [Crichton] to challenge it,” Xerri said. “I back myself. We do a lot of reps [making sure we hold on to the ball].”
The Dragons were left deflated by Stephen Crichton’s last-gasp field goal.Credit: AP
Unsurprisingly, Couchman took the opposing view. “I thought it was a tough call,” the Dragons prop said. “The referees have to make a decision, they do their best, but I’m disappointed with it. I didn’t think it was a strip.
“My first thought was to challenge. ‘Gutho’ [co-captain Clint Gutherson] said, ‘We don’t have a challenge’, so my next thought was to try and stop a field goal.
“Not walking away with the two points, that’s what’s deflating. It was a tough loss, but the boys put in a good effort, and we should be super proud.”
The NRL’s club relationship manager of elite officiating, David Fairleigh, sent a memo to all coaches just last week with a list of rule changes and interpretations, which included stealing the ball.
“Stealing the ball will be determined by the defending player(s) actions,” Fairleigh wrote. “These actions may include striking at the ball, gripping and pulling at the ball or pulling a ball carries arm to dislodge the ball.”
Couchman was playing his first NRL game since rupturing his ACL in round one last year against the Bulldogs.
“That game was one of the highlights of my career, and last year in round one was the lowest point in my career; I’ve never experienced an atmosphere like it,” Couchman said.
“I’ve had this date circled for a while, when I did it, I knew we were coming to Vegas, so I wanted to get fit and healthy and be playing here.”
Meanwhile, the match review committee charged North Queensland winger Braidon Burns with a grade-two careless high tackle, meaning he misses two games, while Knights skipper Tyson Frizell was fined $1000 for a cannonball tackle on Tom Mikaele, who will now miss six weeks with an MCL.
Crichton escaped any charges for his high shot on Dragons debutant Setu Tu.
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