Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson claims the controversial try by debutant Sean O'Sullivan in Sunday night's win against the Titans was the correct ruling.
In one of the more unusual try decisions of the season, Roosters halfback O'Sullivan had the ball stripped over the line by Titans prop Jarrod Wallace, then grabbed at it and it came off the upright pads and fell to the ground in front of him before he grounded it.
His first reaction was of despair, thinking he has squandered an opportunity to score in his first NRL appearance, but it was sent to the Referees' Bunker as a try.
While Fox Spots commentators, including former Titans coach Neil Henry, and the Cbus Super Stadium audience could not believe the bunker decision to uphold the on-field call, Robinson said it was a good interpretation.
O'Sullivan awarded contentious try off goalpost
It's nothing new for a coach on the right side of such a call to back the refs, but if any NRL coach would be pragmatic it would be Robinson.
"I thought it was a try. Obviously it got stripped ... the pad was behind him, he pushed it back into the pad, let go and recovered it from there," said Robinson.
His opposing coach Garth Brennan was adamant the call was wrong, claiming it was "clearly" no try.
"How many looks do they get at it, a few don't they."
Titans skipper Ryan James added: "I thought the player was the best judge of what happened and he knew he didn't score a try but … I don't know, I don't have ten grand."
Brennan also claimed a pass from dummy half Kurt Baptise to Poasa Faamausili for the try that sealed the Roosters' 20-12 victory was forward.
"Anyone could see it … we had one called back last week from Ash Taylor to Kevin Proctor."
Brennan left seething after controversial loss
In other Roosters news, Robinson has ordered his State of Origin players Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco to stay away from the club for a week and not return until next Wednesday.
He wants them fresh and "hungry' after a draining Origin period.
"I want them coming back hungry, ready to go," he said.
"The [inexperienced] guys did really well today by saying 'I'm ready to play, I'm hold our gloves up and play well'. They deserve it; they played really well. We want hungry guys playing each week.
"I told them [Origin representatives] to stay away for a week, come back fresh."
