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6 months ago
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Managing concussions and cracking down on high shots is big on the NRL agenda, but greats of the game fear for the future of the sport after a soft penalty in the Dolphins v Sea Eagles clash on Thursday.
With 18 minutes remaining and the score 22-all, the NRL Bunker took centre stage with a farcical decision that left commentators baffled.
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic had taken a high ball comfortably, but fumbled the pill as he scrambled for a quick play the ball.
The Sea Eagles opted to use their Captain's Challenge in a desperate bid to retain possession at a crucial junction of the match - and video referee Gerard Sutton delivered.
He found the lightest of slaps to the face from Jesse Bromwich that commentator Cooper Cronk said 'wouldn't burst a grape' and decided to penalise the Dolphins.
Channel Nine commentator and Sea Eagles great Paul Vautin was furious.
The NRL's video ref hit the Dolphins with a highly controversial penalty when Jesse Bromwich accidentally tapped Tom Trbojevic in the face on Thursday night (pictured)
NRL great Paul 'Fatty' Vautin (pictured) was furiuous with the decision to award a penalty for a slap that fellow former star Cooper Cronk said 'wouldn't burst a grape
Jesse Bromwich was left bemused by the decision as well, with the Manly fullback appearing to fall into his open palm
Vautin fumed that decisions like that could ruin the fabric of the game.
'He actually fell into an open palm by Jesse Bromwich,' he said in commentary.
'Are you serious? Our game is finished. It is finished if you are penalising that. Honestly.
'I bet you the bloke who made that decision has never stepped on to a football field. What a stitch-up.'
Fox League's Warren Smith said it was a decision so bad that even Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett would disagree with it.
'Wayne Bennett has been around longer than anybody in the NRL, and he's watching on thinking, "Gee, is that what we've come to?",' he said.
'It would have rearranged a couple of eyelashes, if that.'
Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston backed Vautin's call that penalties like that could kill the game.
'Look, we just want consistency,' he said.
'There are tons of these every game. That is a tap. There is no forceful contact. It needs to be forceful contact to the head and then that is a penalty.
'If you tap him like that, that is not forceful contact. I was dumbfounded by that penalty.
'Like Fatty said, rugby league has died tonight after seeing that.'
The night ended on a sour note for Trbojevic with the Sea Eagles losing and the star fullback picking up another hamstring injury
It was a tense night for Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett as his side held on to beat Manly
NRL fans also lamented the state of the game on social media after the penalty.
'The once great game of the 70's is a different game to what we watch today,' one posted.
'This is a result of rule changes that make ANY contract with the head a penalty,' posted another.
'Welcome to the game of doctors and lawyers,' added another.
While Trbojevic got the rub of the green with that call, his night ended on a sour note with a suspected hamstring injury as the Dolphins came from behind to record a rousing 30-24 win at Suncorp Stadium.
The NSW Blues star left the field attempting to stop a try in the corner in the 69th minute on Thursday night, while colliding with a cameraman at the same time.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold said he would go for scans to determine the extent of the injury.
'It is a hamstring injury but I am not too sure how bad it is,' Seibold said.
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