Titans coach Des Hasler has criticsed the officating in his side’s 28-16 loss to the Melbourne Storm, particularly the no-try call against Sam Verrills in the second half.
Midway through the second half, the Titans hooker thought he’d burrowed over for his side’s third try of the night, only to be denied by the Bunker.
As Tino Fa’asuamaleaui played the ball close to the tryline, two Storm players – Trent Loiero and Shawn Blore – laid around the ruck, preventing Verrills from collecting the ball before he eventually burrowed over the line.
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However, upon review, Bunker official Kasey Badger deemed the hooker dove through the ruck to score, gaining an unfair advantage after contacting his skipper’s leg on the way through.
Badger ruled Tino’s position “impacts Ryan Papenhuyzen’s ability to continue to defend the play,” much to the dismay of Fox League’s Michael Ennis.
“I think there was ample time there for Ryan Papenhuyzen and (Nelson) Asofa-Solomona to protect that space. He brushes Tino’s, he certainly doesn’t go through Tino,” Ennis said.
“I think that’s hard done by, I really do.”
The 2016 Premiership winner was not alone in this belief, with Hasler taking aim at the decision in his post-game press conference.
Des details why Titans were wronged | 02:43
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“I thought it was the wrong decision.,” Hasler told media.
“I think there was an email that came from the NRL about players laying in the ruck; that’s fine, that’s good, let them lay in the ruck – but we shouldn’t lose the advantage.
“On that particular field position, I spoke to (NRL officiating coach) David Fairleigh and sent an email because there is a similar play that NAS (Nelson Asofa-Solomona) is very good at.
“I just thought we took that space. I don’t think we contacted anybody, the marker, he played the ball so he’s allowed to hold his ground, I was told.
“They were laying all over the ground. Six again. Penalty. I don’t know. Young Verrills picks up the ball, dives through. Papenhuyzen wasn’t obstructed, that was the word what the NRL sent out so I will be interested to see what their explanation is.
“Kasey got it wrong, again. In saying that.”
Opposition coach Craig Bellamy admitted he didn’t see a “whole heap wrong with it” when wactched.
Hasler conceded outside of the no-try, his side weren’t good enough in many aspects of the match, criticising his side for errors at crucial points of the contest, including two which led to tries.
“I still think we had other opportunities in the game. Some of the errors we came up with, we’ve got ourselves to blame,” he said.
“We’ve just to learn to execute better.”
The loss leaves the Gold Coast on 10 points, with the potential they could finish the round last on the ladder if the Panthers defeat Parramatta on Sunday.
