Dragons’ Jack Bird denied try in ‘ridiculous’ scenes in ANZAC clash with Roosters

Even on ANZAC Day, the Bunker is never too far from controversy.

Just eight minutes into the match, the Dragons looked to have opened the scoring in the annual ANZAC clash between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons.

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But the Bunker has butted in to deny a try that appeared to have few issues on the field.

Having camped down the Roosters’ end, Corey Norman kicked from the left back towards the post with a wicked bounce putting the ball in play under the black dot.

Roosters five-eighth Drew Hutchison went up to catch the ball, but didn’t do it cleanly, with Dragon Jack Bird pick pocketing him to ground the ball under the posts.

Referee Ashley Klein awarded the try but sent it to the Bunker to make sure “he didn’t bobble it into the Roosters player”.

While the new rule has the referee award a try before it is checked by the Bunker before the attempt at goal is taken.

In the Fox League commentary box, it appeared to be too close to call with Cooper Cronk and Andrew Voss refusing to pick a side.

It comes after the call of the North Queensland win over Canberra on Saturday night, when the decisive try was scored with the commentators believing Justin O’Neill was off-side.

Maybe they were gun-shy, maybe it was inconclusive in the vision.

It was a call that could have gone either way, and fans weren’t happy.Source:FOX SPORTS

While Bird snatched it from Hutchison, the Rooster also pushed it through the hands with the ball leaving Bird’s grasp and landing in his arms.

“I don’t know. Does he … I’ll go back to my original thought, I’ll leave it to the Bunker,” Voss said.

The Bunker believed it was enough to rule it a knock on overruling the call.

But sideline reporter Corey Parker also had no idea over the call.

“It’s been a crazy start to the this game but like you, I’m not going to go against the Bunker, like you guys, I’m going to sit on the fence,” he said. “From first view, it looked like a try for mine.”

Do you think this was a try? ?

? #NRLRoostersDragons
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League great Phil Gould fumed over the call.

“That’s ridiculous, everyone is happy (with the original decision). Dear, oh dear, oh dear,” Gould said.

But social media was fuming after the Bunker overruled the call.

That’s a try. Ridiculous ruling #NRLRoostersDragons#NrL

The faceless men deny Saints yet another fair try #NRLRoostersDragons

What an absolute rubbish call by the video #NRL#NRLRoostersDragons

Oh my. That’s a try! #NRLRoostersDragons#nrl#bunkerblunder

However, it wasn’t long before the Dragons opened the scoring, with Tariq Sims barging his way through.

At halftime, the Roosters hold the edge after Daniel Tupou scored in the corner.

The Dragons’ Jordan Pereira was sin binned for a late, high shot on James Tedesco, with the Roosters scoring through Sitili Tupouniua in the 34th minute before putting on a Nat Butcher try just before the siren for 16-6 lead.

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