Cameron Smith called out over Sharks penalty try commentary as little known NRL detail divides fans
NRL fans have called out Cameron Smith and Paul Vautin over their view of the penalty try.
NRL fans have pointed out the penalty try interpretation has been misconstrued over the year with fans shutting down Cameron Smith and Paul Vautin's commentary on the Braydon Trindall incident against the Cowboys. Trindall and Hynes snapped Cronulla's seven-game NRL finals losing streak on Friday night as they led the Sharks to a 28-16 win at Allianz Stadium.
The Sharks progressed, despite backlash over the NRL crowd numbers at Allianz, to set-up a clash with the Panthers next week. However, the first try of the game had commentators and fans divided.
After 12 minutes, the Sharks made a break down the left hand side. Hynes gathered the ball and dropped it backwards to keep the play alive. Trindall scooped up the ball and put in a grubber as he burst through the line.
And Reuben Cotter opted to tackle Trindall - in a blatant professional foul - with the Sharks five-eighth breaking the line. Trindall appeared favourite to reach the ball first as he was 10 metres away from the try line. Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden was also rushing to intercept the bouncing ball in an attempt to foil Trindall's effort.
"You can't say, 100 per cent, he was going to get there before Dearden," Vautin said in Channel Nine commentary. "That's going to be a sin-bin," Smith added. Instead Ashley Klein awarded a penalty try to the Sharks, before sending it upstairs to the Bunker. And the Bunker confirmed the try having agreed Trindall was taken out and was favourite to score.
"That is wrong, I'm sorry, you can't say Trindall would get there before Dearden. How can they say that?" Smith added as the review was taking place. "That is a stitch up," Maroons great Vautin said in disbelief during commentary.
Many fans agreed with Smith and Vautin having claimed Trindall was not guaranteed to have scored with pressure from Dearden a deciding factor. However, a few supporters pointed out the penalty try rule has been misconstrued over the years and Klein had every right to award points.
Nowhere in the rules does it state the referee has to be 100 per cent sure, beyond doubt, a try would have been scored. Klein only has to believe - in his view - Trindall would have probably scored if not for a professional foul.
"The Referee (or Review Officials) may award a penalty try if, in his opinion, a try would have been scored but for the unfair play of the defending team. A penalty try is awarded between the goal posts irrespective of where the offence occurred," the rule reads.
In Smith and Vautin's analysis, they said it was wrong because the referee couldn't prove Trindall would be first to the ball. But the referee could say Trindall would have scored because he was the closest at the time of the professional foul from Cotter. Klein didn't need to be 100 per cent sure to award a penalty try.
Can you please show me where in the rule it says there has to be no doubt. This is a BS thing commentators have invented.
Rule simply states “In the opinion of the referee”. If ref is 51% sure Trindall scores then it’s a penalty try— The Mad Dragons Vodcast (@MadDragonsVod) September 20, 2024
Once you watch the replay of the Braydon Trindall penalty try a couple of times on slow-mo, you realise it simply had to be a penalty try. #NRLSharksCowboys #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/eCovHAi2ZI
— Lachlan Jeffery (@LachlanJeffery) September 20, 2024
Nothing in the rule book says it has to be “beyond any doubt.” That’s a total myth
If that was the rule there would never BE a penalty try, because there would ALWAYS be doubt.
If the Ref believes he would have scored if not for the infringement, a penalty try is awarded.#NRL https://t.co/yCJgzYdGc1— Billy Swagspeare (@bswagspeare) September 20, 2024
Once again last night in #NRLSharksCowboys, the @NRLonNine commentators ALL got the penalty try rule wrong.
You don’t have to be ‘100% certain’. The video ref just needs to think a try would probably have been scored.
Misleading fans on that rule fuels bunker controversy. #NRL— The Leaguie (@TheLeaguie) September 20, 2024
Trindall was in prime position to get there and was denied a chance by Cotter. No matter what you think about Dearden’s pace, you can easily see how a subjective call by the ref would end in a penalty try. Play on#NRLFinals https://t.co/sKE0jhSdfk
— Mitchell A. Gambin (@mitchell_gambin) September 20, 2024
Possibly the worst decision of the year.. yes.. worst... there is so much doubt here.. does he get the ball.. does he ground it.. does the cowboys player get it.. it's awful.... to give a penalty try here... https://t.co/8dvobcGEQK
— Jk (@khoury78) September 20, 2024
Braydon Trindall destroys the Cowboys
Fortunately for the Sharks, the penalty try didn't defy the game with the halves silencing the critics to snap a seven-game losing streak in the NRL finals stretching back to 2018. And coach Craig Fitzgibbon was full of praise for Trindall, and Hynes, after they broke a seven-game losing streak in the NRL finals. "To be honest, last week we were disappointed with Tricky's performance. But like Nicho, he owned it," Fitzgibbon said.
RELATED:
Craig Bellamy makes confession about 'party boy' Cooper Cronk
Brad Fittler returns to coaching after sad revelation about Blues job
NRL world rallies around Mark Carroll after awful new development
"He's a hell of a player. He has been developing along nicely. And tonight his kicking game was strong, his defence was strong. The combination with he and Nicho went well, they didn't get in each other's road and used each other really well. And when he had a moment, he went for it."
Unfortunately, the NRL finals game spectacle was overshadowed with only 19,124 supporters showing up to the ground for the elimination game. The embarrassment was made worse with the Sydney Swans drawing a capacity crowd of 44,053 for their semi-final against Port Adelaide at the SCG next door. The SCG was a sea of red and white with fans flocking to attend the spectacle.
