The Storm vs Dragons game on Monday did not come without controversy.
The final try scored by Melbourne Storm’s Young Tonumaipea has caused a huge backlash from NRL officials and fans. The question is whether or not the ball was played before or after the final buzzer sounded, the latter of which would mean the Storm wouldn’t have scored and the Dragons would have been victorious. Writers from The Newsroom’s sports team, Noah La’ulu and Luke Mahoney, debate on whether or not the try should have been counted and if the Dragons should be awarded bonus points after the controversial decision.
Luke: Before it was proven, it should not have been a try. How many times has there been a game played to the death, one play remains, the player gets up to play simultaneously with the siren being called. It is unjust, unfair and a mistake.
Noah: I think that people need to lay off the Storm for the decision. They’re copping some flack over the decision when it was all on the refs. Personally, I think regardless of when the ball was played and when the buzzer sounded, the Storm’s try should remain a try because the referees said so.
Luke: I agree with that, it isn’t the Storm’s fault that they won the game; that’s just their ability to do in do-or-die situations. It’s the fault of the two referees on the field. As a professional sporting competition we are trying to promote, we can’t have decisions like that ruin the integrity of a game, and when it comes down it, two points could be the difference between St George making the finals or not. When mistakes are made, there should be consequences. It is not acceptable.
Noah: Personally, I don’t think the Dragons should be awarded any points because at the end of the day, they won’t be “points” really; they’ll be sympathy points handed to them because of shoddy officiating. What is stopping other teams claiming terrible refereeing for some sympathy points? I know that this situation is much more important, but what’s done is done.
Luke: They are not sympathy points. They’re two competition points that are valuable to any team’s season and something like this can have an effect on momentum and team morale.
Noah: I disagree. I think that, unfortunately for the Dragons, they’ll just have to cop it on the chin and keep playing top footy like they have all season. As unfair as it is to St. George, it would be unfair to other clubs who could put up a similar argument saying bad officiating cost them season points.
Luke’s standing up for the Dragons while Noah is defending the Storm. Whose side are you taking in this big debate? Luke’s or Noah’s? – Composed by Noah La’ulu and Luke Mahoney
Top screenshot of the controversial try from FootyTube NRL’s Youtube video. Photos from Luke Mahoney and Noah La’ulu’s Facebook pages.
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