Referees have missed one of the most blatant forward passes of the season and it may have ended the Warriors season in their 42-12 preliminary final loss against Brisbane.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh threw the pass in question to Selwyn Cobbo and the winger then found Jordan Riki back on the inside to make it 30-12 in the 55th minute.
“Walsh has thrown it forward a mile, it’s gone forward more than a mile and Brisbane have run away and scored,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.
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Just about everyone in the stadium was waiting for referee Gerard Sutton to call it back but after consulting with his touch judges he awarded the try. The Bunker is now allowed to rule on forward passes.
“I reckon there’s two forward passes in that set,” Steve Roach said.
“This might sound ridiculous but this is the speed of Reece Walsh that the actual touch judge couldn’t keep up with him, this was two metres forward, blatantly forward,” Mick Ennis said.
“The touch judge fell two or three metres off the pace, he just couldn’t keep himself in line with Walsh and it’s an absolute howler.”
“Yes, it’s a howler, it happens, there’s been forward passes since 1908 but Warriors fans will be distraught with that, absolutely distraught and Brisbane will lead by 18.
“I know we can’t use the Bunker but there’s three officials there and the ball blatantly goes forward,” Ennis responded.
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