Rugby league icon Brad Fittler has unleashed a withering onslaught connected the Bunker implicit its arguable determination to grant Knights second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon a effort successful the triumph implicit the Broncos.
The Bunker made the polarising determination successful the 46th infinitesimal of Newcastle's 28-20 triumph implicit Brisbane, handing Fitzgibbon a effort contempt the information Knights centre Bradman Best had held backmost Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako.
Following a rampaging Tyson Frizell line-break that hauled the Knights heavy into Broncos territory, Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga received the shot connected the near borderline and threaded a grubber into the in-goal area.
And arsenic Fitzgibbon steamed done to crushed the ball, helium was aided by Best pinning Isaako's arms from behind.
"I can't judge (the) referee sat determination and said ... this is simply a try," Fittler said connected Nine's post-match show.
"Regardless of whether you deliberation Isaako tin get to the ball, Bradman is showing sick subject and holding the subordinate with his hands. It's a punishment each azygous time of the week. Regardless of immoderate you think, if you tin get to the shot oregon not oregon if it's adjacent oregon whatever, Bradman is holding him. It doesn't substance if it's 20 metres away; you inactive can't clasp him."
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Former Jillaroo Ruan Sims agreed with Fittler.
"My knowing of the regularisation is that he's impeding that defender's opportunity's to play astatine the shot oregon astatine the player, truthful so I hold with you," Sims said.
"It should person been a penalty."
The Knights had taken a 12-8 buffer into the half-time interruption and the awarding of Fitzgibbon's effort sparked 3 Newcastle four-pointers successful succession, rocketing Adam O'Brien's men retired to a 28-8 pb by the 63rd minute.
The Broncos rallied, moving successful 2 converted tries to adjacent the shortage to 28-20 by the 74th minute.
But the Knights' second-half surge, fuelled by the Bunker's dubious call, had enactment Newcastle successful a presumption that would beryllium unassailable.
"That was ridiculous," Fittler said.
"So dumb, crap decision."
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