Bennett furious over NRL Bunker call in Dolphins’ loss to Knights

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has slammed the Bunker over a controversial call on Sunday that cost his side a possible spot in the NRL finals.

“If that’s where we’re going, we’re in a fair bit of trouble in the game because that’s a try,” he said in reference to a disallowed effort partway through the first half of his team’s clash with the Newcastle Knights.

Both sides were playing to keep their 2024 season alive, with the winner claiming eighth place on the ladder.

They looked to have drawn first blood when Trai Fuller crossed over in the 23rd minute off the back of an overlap on the left side.

However, the try was called back, with the Bunker ruling that an obstruction had occurred in the lead-up.

“The three defender committed to our player, who ran the inside shoulder which he’s supposed to do,” an irritated Bennett said post-match.

“And the four defender ran into him, and they (the Bunker) said we obstructed the four defender.

“If that’s the case, then there will be no more of those tries scored, because they’ll run straight into the lead runner deliberately because they know they’ll get a penalty.

“He ran the inside shoulder line, which is the player he is supposed to run on, and that player committed to him — you can see all that.

“But as he’s committing to him, the four defender also runs into him and that’s where they reckon the obstruction occurred.

“It’s just crazy.”

While Bennett did not go as far as saying that the ruling cost the Dolphins the game, it certainly shaped the outcome of the match significantly.

NRL betting sites had expected the contest to be tight, with bookmaker Marantelli Bet setting head-to-head odds at $1.65 to $2.10 in the Knights’ favour.

Having got out of jail with the Fuller try disallowed, Newcastle quickly swung momentum, scoring less than five minutes later through Adam Elliott.

They would go on to cross over again just after half-time, before holding on to win 14-6 and steal eighth place on the ladder.

The Knights are the rank outsiders in the post-season, however, as rugby league bookmakers have them at $67 to win the 2024 NRL Grand Final.

They will begin their finals campaign against the fifth-placed North Queensland Cowboys in a do-or-die match on Saturday night in Townsville.

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