Latrell Mitchell at centre of fresh Bunker 'disgrace' as NRL fans slam 'awful' call

The NRL is facing serious questions about the competency of officials after the Bunker ticked off on a South Sydney try against the Dragons on Saturday despite Latrell Mitchell appearing to be clearly offside. With the game in the balance at 14-10 in the Rabbitohs' favour, Mitchell laid on a superb try for Cody Walker when he caught a high ball and offloaded while falling to ground.

However replays appeared to show that Mitchell was in front of kicker Lachlan Ilias, with many of the belief that Walker was also offside. The Bunker took a lengthy look at replays before inexplicably sticking with the on-field call and confirming the try.

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Speaking in commentary for Fox League, Greg Alexander pointed out that players must have both feet behind the ball when it is kicked to be deemed onside. Andrew Voss was certain the Bunker would intervene, saying: “I think he is offside, he is offside. In fact Campbell Graham is probably the only player onside from the kick. We’ve used the expression attention to detail, South Sydney’s lack of it today is alarming, that is hopeless.”

But Alexander and Voss were both left gobsmacked when the try was confirmed. “Is that right? You have got to have both feet behind the ball, can you tell me that is the case?” Alexander asked.

Voss replied: “They have confirmed the try, that is unbelievable. In an age where we can’t rule on forward passes, but we come to that decision there. Rugby league you are a beautiful thing, but gee you are confusing.”

Dragons coach Ryan Carr, who has taken a number of swipes at officials in recent weeks, wasn't in the same sort of mood on Saturday after the controversial try helped Souths secure a 26-14 win. “I’ve got no thoughts," he said after a question from a journo about the call, to which captain Ben Hunt laughed.

Hunt said: “I saw the replay...I said he was offside, he (Mitchell) said he was onside and thought it should have been a try. But I thought they had to be out of the 10.”

Fans were left fuming on social media, labelling the non-intervention from the Bunker 'comical' and 'a disgrace'.

NRL plagued by officiating blunders in recent weeks

It comes as another embarrassing blow for the NRL after a number of blunders in recent weeks. The Panthers were awarded a dubious try against Manly on Thursday night despite a knock-on from Liam Martin and a pass off the ground while he was held. Because the indiscretions occurred on the play before the try was scored, the Bunker wasn't allowed to review it.

The league's head of football Graham Annesley also admitted last week that three teams (including the Dragons) were dudded by incorrect calls at crucial stages in round 23. Annesley said the Dragons should have been awarded a try by the Bunker against the Eels because Clint Gutherson stripped the ball off Jacon Liddle in a one-on-one steal before Junior Amone picked it up and scored. However the Bunker deemed it a loose carry and knock-on from Liddle, and the Eels ended up winning by six.

Annesley also admitted that Canberra scored a try from a forward pass in their 22-18 win over the Wests Tigers, while labelling a late penalty against the Dolphins "very harsh". Annesley said referee Grant Atkins wrongly pinged Dolphins prop Herman Ese'ese for holding a Newcastle player at a scrum in the final minute of their 30-28 loss to the Knights.

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