BY CURTIS WOODWARD

The NRL has come out in support of the Bunker after the struggling Penrith Panthers were denied first points in Thursday Night Football against the Brisbane Broncos.

Panthers hooker Peter Wallace shot out of dummy half close to the line, reached out and only had to fall over to plant the ball for opening points. Instead, Brisbane prop Josh McGuire knocked the ball out, backwards. It was then picked up by James Tamou who then scored the try.

The on-field referee went upstairs calling a ‘try’. The Bunker hastily said McGuire wasn’t playing at the ball and that Wallace had lost it.

Huh?

In commentary, Peter Sterling was happy to agree McGuire didn’t play at the ball but couldn’t believe they’d ruled a knock on against Wallace.

Gee what a start to the round for the @NRLBunker!! Please, someone explain that one to me..#howler

— Ryan Girdler (@rwgirdler) April 27, 2017

Further analysis of the @PenrithPanthers No Try decision in the 5th minute of #NRLBroncosPanthers.#NRL pic.twitter.com/zXyezJgPIZ

— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) April 27, 2017

This explanation compounds the original error of the bunker ruling this no try. #NRLBroncosPanthers #NRL

— Warren Smith (@WarrenSmithFOX) April 27, 2017

The ball went a metre backwards!

Brisbane then scored a long range try and that was it. The Panthers were shot. They didn’t deserve to win on what we saw in the rest of the match but how do you know what would have happened if Penrith were given the try to begin with?

The NRL were adamant Wallace lost the ball.

“The aspect the bunker had been asked to review was if Peter Wallace had knocked the ball on or whether Josh McGuire had intentionally knocked the ball out,” the NRL said.

“In reviewing the replay we see Josh is making a tackle with no intent of playing at the ball at this point.

“We see Peter Wallace is extending the ball towards the Broncos’ goal line, as he extends the ball forward there is a loose carry which comes in contact with the defender.

“This constitutes a knock-on due to the loose carry therefore the on-field referee’s decision was overturned to no try due to the knock-on by Peter Wallace.”

So what they’re actually saying is Wallace lost the ball into McGuire which is even harder to stomach for Panthers fans because it just isn’t true.

What has also been glossed over in all of this is how quickly the Bunker overturned the decision – like it was that obvious to them but nobody else.

To them, it was obvious after one or two looks that McGuire wasn’t playing at it.

To them, it was obvious Wallace lost the ball.

To them, it was obvious Wallace lost the ball forward.

Amazing. All this time we thought it was the Bunker getting it wrong. It’s us. It must be all of us.

@woodward_curtis