Coach Des Hasler will seek a ‘please explain’ from NRL headquarters after a controversial bunker decision proved a turning point in Gold Coast’s 28-16 loss to Melbourne.
Hasler claimed bunker official Kasey Badger got a call wrong to deny the Titans a try in the 64th minute, which resulted in a 12-point swing with Melbourne scoring a minute later in Saturday’s clash at Cbus Super Stadium.
Storm players Trent Leorio and Shawn Blore were caught up on the ground at the ruck and Titans dummy half Sam Verrills picked up the ball and dived over the line.
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But after a Melbourne challenge, Badger ruled Verrills had made contact with teammate Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who played the ball, which impeded Ryan Papenhuyzen in defence and was declared a no-try.
While the Titans retained the ball due to the Storm ruck infringement and attacked the line, Melbourne’s Grant Anderson intercepted a pass and raced 90 metres to score.
Instead of trailing by six points, Gold Coast were behind by 12 with the margin proving too big for the home side to peg back.
“Kasey got it wrong, again,” Hasler said at the post-match press conference, which he cut short after two questions.
“There’s an email from the NRL about players lying in the ruck; that’s fine, let them lie in the ruck, but you shouldn’t lose the advantage.
“They were lying all over the ground and six again, penalty, I don’t know whether it was called, and young Vez (Verrills) picks up the ball and dives through, doesn’t touch anyone, Papenhuyzen wasn’t obstructed.
“That was the word-for-word what the NRL sent out, so I’ll be interested to see what their explanation was.”
Storm coach Craig Bellamy didn’t want to take sides but conceded without watching a replay he “didn’t think there was a whole heap wrong with it”.
While that appeared a turning point, Hasler said his team had plenty of other chances to cause an upset, with 13 errors and a 70 per cent completion rate proving costly.
The Titans’ eighth loss kept the pressure on Hasler with the team languishing second last on the ladder, as Melbourne moved into second spot.
But with Bellamy stating before the match he expected to make an announcement on his coaching future next week, the Storm performance was far from convincing.
While wet weather didn’t make it easy for either side, ill-discipline and errors meant Melbourne struggled to shake the Titans, with a furious Bellamy up out of his seat a number of times, storming into the back of the coach’s box.
Sua Fa’alogo crossed over twice for the Storm in their 28-16 victory over Gold Coast. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Anderson and winger Sua Fa’alogo both scored a double on a limited Melbourne highlight reel, while Titans winger Phillip Sami also crossed twice for his side.
Melbourne were without Origin stars Harry Grant and Xavier Coates while the home side were forced into some late changes after fullback Jaylan De Groot went down with a hamstring injury and five-eighth AJ Brimson suffered a head knock at Thursday’s training.
The Titans dominated much of the half but late tries to Fa’alogo and Tyran Wishart gave Melbourne a 16-6 halftime lead.
Bellamy gave the Titans credit for their tenacity.
“I don’t really take into account whether we’re favourites or non-favourites or where people are on the table, anyone can beat anyone on their day” he said.
“The conditions today, that was always going to be whoever handled those conditions best and I think our handling, our completions were better than the Gold Coast.
“But they certainly didn’t give up there.”