Commentators have expressed their dismay that Titans winger Phillip Sami wasn’t awarded a penalty try in the second half of their clash against the Panthers.
Sami appeared to score a try in the corner, with the referee initially pointing to the spot.
But closer examination from the bunker showed that Sami had in fact put his foot on the touchline as he lunged in for the try.
However, replays showed that Panthers winger Brain To’o made high contact on Sami before he placed his foot on the touchline.
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As the official in the bunker watched the vision of the incident, she said: “Play has been cleared up to this point,” after watching vision of To’o’s high contact on Sami.
That left Andrew Voss in a state of disbelief.
“How is it cleared up to this point? What about the hit (to) the head?” Voss asked.
“No, no, no. That’s not your duty.”
Michael Ennis agreed with Voss.
“Got to look at the contact to the head,” Ennis added.
Voss made a reference to the 1999 grand final, when the Storm were awarded a penalty try in the dying stages, which led to a thrilling victory over the Dragons.
“If that’s the case the 1999 grand final try, history gets rewritten,” Voss said.
“You have to look at the head contact.
“It’s had an impact on the moment.”
Ennis was gobsmacked.
“No, no, that can’t be right,” he said.
On the field, referee Liam Kennedy explained the decision to Titans captain Kieran Foran.
“It’s going to be a penalty for high contact,” Kennedy said.
“It’s not the reason he doesn’t score the try because his foot goes into touch.
“It’s going to be a penalty, and Brian’s on report.”
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But Foran felt as though To’o’s illegal contact on Sami contributed to his foot going into touch.
“He’s knocked out before he hits the ground,” Foran said.
Voss agreed with him.
“Kieran Foran, I’m with you,” Voss said.
