'Blatant knock on': Panthers catch huge break after 'contentious ...
The Panthers have been awarded a “contentious” try in the final minutes of the first half, despite what appeared to be a “blatant” knock on in the lead up.
Manly had all the running on the Panthers and dominated the opening half, leading 12-6 after 38 minutes before Stephen Crichton crossed for Penrith.
However, it was clear Crichton’s try should never have happened with Penrith forward Liam Martin seemingly knocking the ball on into Manly winger Raymond Tuaimalo Veaga when contesting for a bomb.
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Martin caught the ball and gave it off to a teammate with referee Gerard Sutton calling six again. Panthers half Nathan Cleary would be tackled soon after but in the next play, Crichton crossed in the left corner.
Fox League’s Michael Ennis said it was a “blatant” knock on after looking at the replay.
“I think Martin loses the ball into (Raymond Tuaimalo) Veaga and everybody had stopped and then all of a sudden Gerard Sutton shouts six again,” Ennis said.
“What a contentious moment this is. Try confirmed after a blatant knock on from Liam Martin. Huge call.”
Warren Smith added: “It looked to be the case didn’t it on that replay as Martin went to the air... It bounced of Martin into the chest of Vaega.
“As a result, because the tackle was completed they couldn’t go back to that to take a look at it so the Panthers catch a real break there.”
Considering Manly’s momentum at the time, Cooper Cronk labelled it a “huge moment of the game”.
