In a dramatic and controversial ending, the Manly Sea Eagles defeated the Melbourne Storm 18-16 in Round 20 of the NRL season, following a late penalty awarded against Storm captain Harry Grant.
The pivotal moment came in the 78th minute after Luke Brooks' field goal attempt missed wide right and went dead.
However, a captain's challenge resulted in a penalty to Manly right in front of the posts, with the bunker ruling that Grant had made contact with Brooks's kicking leg after the ball was released.
Reuben Garrick converted the penalty goal to snap the 16-all deadlock and secure a thrilling win for Manly at AAMI Park.
The penalty decision sparked immediate backlash and debate across the rugby league world.
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Speaking on 100% Footy, Phil Gould didn’t hold back.
“In my era it would be laughable,” he said, before asking fellow panellists Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith a question that he felt needed their opinion.
“As two ex-players, are you not embarrassed that it decides the game of football?”
Gallen, with a cheeky response, replied, “You said in your lunch break you would go down [to NRL HQ] and solve all the issues. Go down there and sort the issues out.”
Gould then posed a provocative hypothetical: “If that happens on Grand Final day, are they going to reward it?”
Despite the uproar, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy admitted the decision was correct under current rules but lamented his team’s poor ball control.
The Storm completed just 64 per cent of their sets (29/45) and had to rally from a 16-6 half-time deficit, largely thanks to a sensational hat-trick from winger Xavier Coates.