The Eels have given the remainder of the NRL a lesson in utilizing their captain’s problem in one of many nice makes use of of the rule simply earlier than halftime in opposition to the Bulldogs.
However whereas the decision helped the Eels cling on for a win for a lot of the recreation, the Bulldogs, regardless of a mountain of tries disallowed, got here again to assert a 22-18 victory in entrance of over 45,000 followers.
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Main Canterbury 12-10 with slightly below 4 minutes left within the first half, the Eels went down the quick aspect on the final sort out with Mitchell Moses struggling to usher in the ball.
Though the Eels’ half clearly dropped the ball, referee Peter Gough dominated that it was play on with Will Penisini kicking forward, however too powerfully because the ball went lifeless in-goal.
Normally that may imply a seven-tackle set for the Bulldogs — however the Eels challenged the decision, arguing that they’d in reality knocked the ball on.
That may as a substitute result in a play-the-ball 18m out with simply the common six-tackle set.
Greg Alexander was attempting to make sense of the play, claiming Moses had “obtained his foot to the ball”.
However referee Gough blew his whistle saying “Parramatta are difficult the choice of the ball going lifeless, saying it was truly knocked on by Mitch Moses and possession retaken, so the sport ought to have stopped earlier than it went lifeless”.
Andrew Voss was shocked, saying: “See that, they’re difficult saying ‘our halfback knocked it on, you don’t get the seven sort out set’. That’s wonderful.
“They’re difficult their resolution saying ‘we made the error.
“That’s wonderful, how good is that. Parramatta have gotten professors of their aspect.”
Alexander stated it will need to have been Gutherson and Moses.
Voss added: “‘You’ve made a mistake since you didn’t detected a knock on from us — absolutely that’s a primary.
“That’s an incredible little passage. A bit of little bit of historical past…”
Followers had been impressed by the transfer from the Eels brains belief.
“Lol that’s finest captains problem I’ve seen,” one fan stated.
“Lmao bollocks, if Eels rating there it’s known as a drop kick not a knock on,” one other argued.
One other fan posted: “That’s an ideal however unusual problem haha”.
A fourth commented: “Paramatta challenges that they knocked the ball on and subsequently it isn’t a 7 sort out set. A sensible problem from them. Humorous stuff.”
One other wrote: “Win Lose or Draw it’s now. Dr King Gutho.”
It’s been an entertaining match between the rivals with the Bulldogs threatening to run away with the outcome — however had been denied a number of instances.
An offside resolution late within the first half, an obstruction within the second and a few ahead cross selections left Canterbury behind the eight-ball for a lot of the match.
However the Bulldogs bounced again late, overwhelming the Eels to assert the win and pushing Canterbury to seventh on the ladder.
Whereas the win was good, it was a tricky evening for the Bulldogs who misplaced ahead Josh Curran in horrifying scenes within the first half when he was left on the bottom after seemingly amassing the hip of Joe Ofahengaue as he went in for a sort out.
He was stretchered off the sphere however simply after halftime, Fox League’s Lara Pitt reported he was strolling across the dressing rooms however was “disillusioned he can come again out”.
Because it was the Bulldogs’ second concussion of the match, the aspect have activated 18th man Jake Turpin.
A second medicab was wanted within the second half for second rower Jacob Preston, who badly rolled his ankle, with early studies rising that it was believed to be damaged.
