'Absolute joke': NRL fans turn on 'shameful' grand final commentary
Australia watched on as the Storm dominated the first half of the NRL grand final, but some on social media were critical of the Channel Nine commentary.
The Storm raced away to a 22-0 lead at half-time, before the Panthers staged a thrilling second half comeback - falling just short in a 26-20 defeat.
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But Melbourne fans were perplexed as to why former Penrith General Manager, and current Channel Nine commentator Phil Gould, appeared to be heaping praise on the Panthers when they were losing.
“I honestly feel the Panthers are on top,” Gould said.
“The run of the play I feel like they’re doing better than the Melbourne Storm but the Storm have been able to keep the scoreboard kicking with penalty try and penalty goal and now intercept.
“So the scoreboard is not as bad as what it obviously feels for them. They’ve got to go on the feel of the game. The feel of the game is they’re well in it. The scoreboard’s just not friendly.
Many fans, including a host of Melbourne supporters, let their feelings be known.
I know virtually nothing about NRL so am trying to pick up the rules by listening to commentary tonight. Seems like a weird game when a team can be 26-0, yet are apparently losing & being dominated. Still, this Gould guy sounds legit so I’ll trust him #NRLGF
— Grant McArthur (@mcarthurg) October 25, 2020
Phil Gould!
Unbelievable! #fakenews #NRLGF— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) October 25, 2020
Sport is all about scoreboard pressure but apparently Phil Gould thinks @storm are struggling 🤔🤪 (hold your breath) #pleasexplain @NRL
— Shane Crawford (@SCrawf9) October 25, 2020
Cmon @storm !!! All over them!!! (Unless you were listening to the commentary 🤦🏻♂️) 22-0!!! #doubleup #startagain @gradecricketer
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) October 25, 2020
Listened to the first 30mins of the #NRLGF and couldn’t believe how badly the Storm were playing.
Shocked to open my eyes and see they’re up 16-0 🤪— Jack Fitzpatrick (@JFitzpatrickT1) October 25, 2020
I don’t watch a lot of @NRL but was chuckling @ this before!
Is this the norm? https://t.co/g7oaqUjyqW— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) October 25, 2020
Phil Gould being unhappy all night will do wonders for my mood. #NRLGF
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) October 25, 2020
Embarrassing from Gould ...
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) October 25, 2020
What chance some credit to the Storm from the @Channel9 commentators? Storm dominant but “poor old panthers, poor refereeing”. Haters gonna hate I suppose. #NRLGrandFinal
— Bernard Moloney (@BeeJayEmm) October 25, 2020
@NRL @NRLonNine how you two think it’s good for the game to allow Phil Gould’s biased commentary to continue is beyond me. Absolute joke. #nrl #NRLPanthersStorm #sackphil
— Michael Lewis (@thavegaslounge) October 25, 2020
Really some of these individual efforts have been extraordinary by @storm but by listening to the commentary you'd think nothing of it. Disgraceful. #dobetter @9NewsAUS @NRLonNine Shameful #NRl #NRLgf
— Julian O'Brien (@Julian_OBrien) October 25, 2020
NRL grand final starts off in crazy fashion
Penrith fans couldn’t believe their misfortune in the opening 10 minutes of the NRL grand final after the Storm were awarded a penalty try, before the Panthers were denied by the bunker.
Controversy erupted in just the fourth minute when Justin Olam dived towards the Penrith line to finish off a sweeping Storm move.
But the referee deemed Olam had lost the ball in the tackle over the line.
However, replays showed the Penrith defender used his outstretched leg to knock the ball loose.
The Bunker awarded a penalty try for the first time in a grand final since 2003.
But only three minutes later, Penrith were denied a try in a tight obstruction call when Josh Mansour crossed.
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