Former referees boss weighs into the debate that won’t die down.
Former NRL referees boss Bill Harrigan said Sam Thaiday’s disallowed try from State of Origin II should have counted and thus giving them an excellent chance to make it nine series wins in-a-row.
Harrigan’s claim, on on top of several former great Queensland players taking a swipe at NSW fan behaviour, has led to a bitter aftermath of game II.
Shayne Hayne and Ben Cummings have come under fire for the game, which descended into a scrappy affair littered with several small scuffles which marred the game.
However, it was the no-try to Thaiday in the 52nd minute after he was ruled to have lost the ball while being tackled by Blues’ fullback Jarryd Hayne which changed the course of the game and Queensland’s dynasty.
“On the Sam Thaiday incident, well … it’s a try,” Harrigan said
“I know people are saying he (Hayne) didn’t play at the ball — of course he played at the ball.
“He knocked it out of Thaiday’s hand. It means the ball is ‘live’, it’s not a knock-on, not a loose carry.
“If he didn’t touch the ball, Sam has it in his (arm) and he scores a try.”
Maroons coach Mal Meninga said after the game that he thought his team was denied a try, which would have given them a 10-0 lead at the time, in what would have been an unassailable lead given the closeness of the clash.
“I thought Sam’s was a try, seriously,” he said.
“He was stripped and here we go, whether he knocked the ball on … it was a strip.
“In Origin that can make a difference but we won’t offer any excuses.”
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