Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is unhappy the bunker wasn’t consulted to make a ruling on Melbourne’s first two tries in the Storm’s nailbiting win in the NRL qualifying final at AAMI Park.
The unfancied Eels had the best of the opening 40 minutes, leading by six points at the break, only for the home team to draw level early in Saturday’s second half with a controversial – albeit spectacular – try to Kenny Bromwich.
Billy Slater crossed again for the home side in the 50th minute and they held on to win 18-16, despite a 66th-minute response from Parramatta’s Fijian flyer Semi Radradra.
But it was winger Josh Addo-Carr’s first Storm try in the fourth minute that Arthur later insisted the bunker should have been called on to adjudicate as well as for the Bromwich try, when Cooper Cronk looked to have thrown a forward pass in the build-up.
“If we’ve got the bunker there, we’ve got to go to the bunker and have a look at the tries,” Arthur said.
“Our first try went straight to the bunker.
“(They should have reviewed) the first one and the second one (by Melbourne).
“I think they need to have a look at (the potential forward pass from Cronk) at least to make sure.”
Despite the loss, Arthur was proud of the way his team pushed the Storm all match after coming in as long-priced underdogs.
“It was a good tough physical contest and momentum changed a few times with both teams,” he said.
“I’m extremely proud of our boys, the way they fought back.
“They didn’t have ball possession, or field position in that second half and, the first opportunity we got down there, we scored.
” … (but) it was definitely a missed opportunity.
“The boys showed plenty of want, plenty of desire and we showed we’re good enough.
“No one gave us a chance and we showed that we’re good enough.”
Arthur has other concerns besides having to face the winner of the Cronulla-North Queensland elimination final.
Eels prop Daniel Alvaro was placed on report for elbowing Tim Glasby and teammate Manu Ma’u was reported for a dangerous tackle on Suliasi Vunuvalu.
