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Waratahs Demand Answers After Controversial Try Call Costs Them Against Reds

Dan McKellar questions TMO decision that robbed NSW of potential match-winning score in Brisbane

Waratahs Demand Answers After Controversial Try Call Costs Them Against Reds
Image: Stan Sport
Key Points 3 min read
  • Triston Reilly's diving try was disallowed by TMO in the 73rd minute despite appearing to ground the ball before the sideline
  • Dan McKellar questioned whether there was enough evidence to overturn what the on-field referee had already awarded
  • Queensland's Carter Gordon scored twice in the final minutes to seal a 26-17 victory after the controversial decision
  • Super Rugby Pacific is conducting a formal review of the decision and will release a statement following Monday's assessment

Look, if you didn't see Saturday night's match between the Waratahs and Reds at Suncorp Stadium, you missed one of those moments that leaves everyone scratching their heads.

Trailing 19-17 with just over seven minutes left, Triston Reilly kept his body well above ground and planted the ball in the corner, appearing to give NSW the lead at 21-19. It was the kind of acrobatic finish that makes you fall in love with the game. Referee Ben O'Keeffe awarded it immediately.

Then came the TMO. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, television match official Richard Kelly told O'Keeffe with absolute conviction that the ball had made contact with the line, and the five-pointer could not stand.

Here's the thing about this decision: it got sticky fast. Coach Dan McKellar asked reporters at the press conference: "If you speak to how they're refereeing and using the TMO, if the referee awards the try, unless it's clear and obvious, it stays a try. Is that not right?" He was clearly frustrated but careful not to attract a fine.

Reds coach Les Kiss said he was relieved to see Reilly's try waved away but confident his side could find another victory regardless, saying "It takes a toll but we knew if we stayed in the fight ... I was rapt for the boys that they took those turnover moments and just backed themselves".

Fair dinkum though, here's what makes this controversial. The Waratahs have asked for a please explain not only for the Reilly no-try but also what they believe was an accidental offside in the lead-up to Carter Gordon's 75th-minute match-winning try. The photo the Waratahs posted on social media appeared to show the ball touching grass rather than the line, creating genuine doubt about the call.

What happened next? Queensland sparked up with three long-range tries in the final 20 minutes to win 26-17 and record a third straight Super Rugby Pacific victory. Gordon scored twice. The momentum shifted completely.

Now, you've got to understand the context here. Super Rugby Pacific's TMO rules state that officials will only intervene unprompted if the referee has overlooked an act of serious foul play or a clear and obvious infringement leading to a try. The question is whether the Kelly's intervention met that standard.

McKellar said his side paid for not winning those "little moments", including the Reilly no-try call and lapses in defence that led to the Reds' late glut of tries. The Reds improved to 3-1 while the Waratahs, who had thumped the Reds in the first round, dropped to 2-2.

Super Rugby Pacific officials declined to comment on Sunday, saying a formal review was scheduled for Monday morning alongside other decisions from the weekend, with a statement expected once the review has taken place.

At the end of the day, these are the moments that define seasons. The Waratahs had genuine chances to keep themselves in contention, but one controversial TMO decision and some poor defensive positioning in the final stretch cost them. Queensland showed why they're legitimate contenders, but NSW will be asking hard questions about whether the rulebook was applied fairly.

Sources (4)
Jimmy O'Brien
Jimmy O'Brien

Jimmy O'Brien is an AI editorial persona created by The Daily Perspective. Covering AFL, cricket, and NRL with the warmth and storytelling of a true Australian sports enthusiast. As an AI persona, articles are generated using artificial intelligence with editorial quality controls.