10 Controversial Referee Decisions In A NRL Grand Final Match (NRL)

If your team makes the grand final, you want nothing more than to see your captain hoist up the trophy as premiers. But when a controversial referee decision prevents this from happening, it can cause outrage and frustration from the fans. The NRL select the best referees to officiate the biggest game of the year in order to have a fair and controversy free match with the two best teams deciding the fate of the match based on their incredible skills. However on some occasions the referees have to step in and make a 50/50 call that displeases some rugby league fans which in turn creates controversy. For this list, we will only be considering grand finals from the NRL era and as you know from our previous referring videos, you have got the whistle. Some of these calls are correct, some of these calls are wrong so we are going to let you be the judge...
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DISCLAIMER: We do not own any of the images and videos used in this video. We have referenced each source where we found images and videos in the bottom left of the screen accordingly. All images were retrieved from Google Images and are owned by the respective website producers. All videos are owned by the NRL, Fox Sports and/or the Nine Network and are for the purpose of helping us explain our top 10 list and are in no way intending to breach any copyright infringements these organisations may have if any...
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[@greatest_game_of_all]

We had to trim some content from quite a few of these picks due to copyright infringements which is why the editing looks a bit dodgy. We apologise for this and hope you enjoyed the video

[@uncolouredsteve5839]

Video idea: Every teams biggest wins and losses of the NRL ear. I’ll keep asking every video for it

[@drcrisp8538]

@M piss off. No Australia’s number one sport will never be soccer kid

[@chloew22]

@user-gu4tv4hp6sthis isn’t about soccer?

[@nicktsougranis602]

Once I saw the video notification I knew it was gonna be the “6 again” call

[@stevespencer8904]

😢

[@paulhanna6169]

Top 5 sin bins next please

[@darcytolhurst3700]

Ye that would be good

[@poiu77]

@@darcytolhurst3700 smith should be number 1

[@zaizaiandsonnynixon200]

What smith

[@whirrandnothing]

@@zaizaiandsonnynixon200 smith

[@stxrmie8977]

Billy slater lost that wtf 😂

[@illiterateemu2049]

Still pissed off to this day

[@nobodynothing.]

The thumbnail says it all for what no.1 is gonna be

[@EelsFan1]

Even after years of release this video still hits👌

[@somebodiesyoutube4860]

Pat Richards 2005 efforts would be awarded every day these days.

[@cauliflowerconnoisseur2710]

2009 still annoys me. Slater clearly lost it.

[@emu2746]

Eels were well and truly hard done by

[@GbrBy]

Knew the no 1 spot would be that infamous 6 again incident

[@RolllikeDyse]

2014 GF Inglis try he did the goana was actually one of the worst forward passes I’ve ever seen and I’ve never heard anyone say a word about it

[@rileysmithtz643]

They'd already locked up the game at that point. Reece Walsh on the weekend though...

[@ajd69]

commentators mentioned it also i feel like disallowing that try would've ruined the moment, even if it shouldn't have been a try

[@joshtaylor2573]

2:44 straight up try

[@namwens1]

There were multiple shocking calls ikn that 2019 gf. The ball hitting the trainer for example...

[@aetd106]

That was the law at the time - if a non-player interferes in play or touches the ball you packed a scrum at the spot of the interference for the team in attacking territory. Not a shocking call at all but definitely an unwanted outcome.

[@freddy8873]

Yes. Wighton's try coming off the back of an incorrect six-again call. Soliola going unpunished for attacking Keary's legs in the incident you mention. But hey they affected the Roosters so we don't care...

[@brock8839]

The ref made the right call with the 6 again in 2019 by giving the roosters the ball as they didn’t touch it tho he shouldn’t have changed it when he already decided. It was the right call in the end and I don’t get how people can say Raiders were robbed when they were losing and they had 10 minutes where they were versing a roosters team without Cronk and couldn’t do anything but all of a sudden in the end they were gonna score lol I don’t get some footy fans logic

[@Its_just_me_again]

@@aetd106 yea and funny how the bias mentions the ball hitting the trainer but forgets to mention that it wouldve been a penalty everyday of the week for taking the kickers legs out lol - i guess when ppl need to whinge, lil things like facts dont get in the way :)

[@garymcdernie6746]

You mean Soliola’s high tackle in the first place?

[@bus5683]

Lol Penrith fans complained so much about the grand final last year even though there first try was absolute bullshit

[@NiccoloMachiavelliii]

Top 10 coach outbursts!

[@connormacleod2715]

Biggest wins please and please do a win for the Newcastle Knights

[@justanotherdude6263]

Raiders got robbed🤦🏾‍♂️

[@martoskingos417]

Lol no they didn't. The right call was made. You're saying you'd be happy if the wrong call was made.

[@doylersafl8728]

​@martoskingos417 hard to get a call wrong if you make two calls. Regardless of that, the first call was correct. 6 again every day of the week, every week of the month, every month of the year

[@MachineThatCreates]

When you control the game you can control the outcome.

[@alecbathgate7516]

That 6-again call went from one of the worst calls in grand final history (because Tedesco definitely did not touch it) to the correct call. Had it gone the other way and Canberra were to score, it would've still made top of this list guaranteed.

[@johngordon8295]

The Raiders were absolutely dudded twice in the GF. Firstly when the Roosters trainer interfered with the football when the Raider closeby who was chasing would have got there first and gone close to scoring. The 6 again call destroyed the Raiders momentum. Players are told to play to the whistle and Jack Wighton did not see or hear the call. Why is it that the Roosters always seem to have these sorts of calls favour them. The obvious forward pass in the Kenny-Dowall try in 2013 another case in point.

[@ib344]

@@johngordon8295 as he said the correct call was made it didn't touch a rooster so no six again, raiders couldn't score with all the ball in the second half and with cronk off the field, they didn't deserve to win!

[@doylersafl8728]

​@@ib344very easily could've scored off of that ball. Regardless of whether it was 6 again or not, you have to stick with your call if that's what you've signalled

[@ib344]

@@doylersafl8728 nah they couldn't score all game they weren't scoring then! Correct call was made 2 seconds later not a big difference. They didn't deserve to win!

[@doylersafl8728]

@ib344 when one team reacts to the first call and thus has no way of knowing otherwise, it's made a massive difference. There's no two ways about it, regardless of whether it was right or wrong, it should have been 6 again

[@gengarpokemon7731]

1st yes. 2nd no. 3rd no. 4th you are allowed to run behind as long as no one is obstructed/impeded so each to their own. 5 yes. 6 yes. 7 yes.8 yes. 9 chookies fan and yes forward a metre. 10 no, he made a call then recovered and rectified his mistake and made the correct call. he repeatedly yelled last and had the last signal with wighton looking dead at him.

[@outlawrip-offartist4161]

Ryan Hoffman clearly knock the ball on right there, and yes I’m a Broncos fan.

[@gabbyt98]

I doubt Ryan Hoffman knocked it on and I’m a storm fan

[@bensonsmiffsmiffwild5083]

The eels got robbed 😭😭😭

[@jackburrows1071]

yep, awful call against Parra and all while Storm were over the salary cap

[@blahblahblah8911]

Is that you Nathan?

[@baileygilbert4766]

Manly got robbed too in 2013 against the Roosters 🐓.

[@doylersafl8728]

Absolutely the eels were robbed, right in front of me, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME

[@NesianCatholic]

Top 5 most controversial sin bins

[@J.Rizza.]

I wonder what will be #1

[@FootyXNBA_Editz]

@Jacob Glegg we all know

[@tomdonaldson6948]

@Jacob Glegg unlucky

[@xXSinForLifeXx]

1:30 hilarious part is that's a try 9/10 these days

[@mattd7850]

Most of these calls are correct but holy the Slater strip one is such a bad decision it was a clear loose carry. As usual refs favouring the storm

[@grahammcpherson8323]

The penalty wasn't for a strip, it was for the leg grab as Slater was getting up... and that is what the ref signalled. Not for a strip.

[@baileygilbert4766]

Roosters 🐓 should of loss the 2013 GF against Manly.

[@delsar1523]

Spot on with number 1

[@Bobby12373]

It would’ve been controversial either way, if he didn’t change his call and they scored then it would’ve been the wrong call and the roosters would’ve been robbed. If raiders couldn’t score with 12 on 13 for 10 minutes why do you think they could’ve scored then? They couldn’t score regardless and roosters just used that momentum to score fair and square.

[@fale892]

Nothing wrong with the Bulldogs one, he was in the goal area, he wasnt held and ball holding arm wasnt on the ground. Play on

[@ryanbasilio9548]

Poor Canberra got ripped off badly.

[@UncleAL86]

Why?

[@lbriley7426]

Shouldn’t have been six again in the first place, so why are we still talking about this?

[@silver2164]

10. Dropped it 9. Debatable. I'd say try 8. Clear penalty try 7. Sheppard! 6. Hits some of Hoffman's arm 5. Try 4. Loses the ball. Not a pen 3. Clearly out but pretty hard for the touch judge to see that 2. Fwd 1. What was the ref thinking!

[@aetd106]

4. You could say the penalty is more for not releasing the tackled player/leg hold but the signal of strip is incorrect

[@kurt10k74]

100% agree!

[@mitchellhornick686]

We should bring an advantage rule like in rugby union

[@rewster7]

Still filthy over that El Masri try. When is held?

[@JamesSant1]

I'm a dragons fan but that's a penalty try

[@xXSinForLifeXx]

5:10 typical Melbourne bullshit. He loses that he was literally being tackled around the legs.

[@daduckgodxd7224]

as a roosters fan they roosters were going to concede

[@everythingsporting]

Top ten nrl best foot races or nrl fastest players

[@thedudebro168]

The refs earn huge bonuses for for big games. Often times the refs chosen have abysmal records throughout the season.

[@ashtonroles1797]

the milk had that trophy in the bag the ref can’t just change his decision like that!

[@DonnyStock]

That el masri one is a try any day of the week.

[@django2503]

you should've shown every other fucked up decision by the refs in the 2019 gf. Like where Papali'i didnt get awarded the penalty try or when the ball hit the roosters trainer and elliot whitehead would've run away

[@ndingo]

6 again

[@UncleAL86]

Went no where near the Roosters player - haters crying that Canberra couldn’t win off an incorrect call!

[@doylersafl8728]

Don't know what clip you saw buddy, it so obviously knocked off tedesco's shoulder. Any chance Helen Keller is your optician?

[@viktorgeedorah466]

Manly were robbed in that GF .. it was sad to watch .. what about when jamie lyon kicked in the last near roosters line Michael Jennings played it before finding touch (clear as day ) jennings was even shaking his head in disappointed and then a second later whistle blows & roosters are given the restart That single-handedly change the momentum of the game We were 2 tries up and should have been rewarded that restart from jennings playing at it Manly would have scored in that set of 6 in that was just before half-time Manly was steamrolling them But like I said , that one incorrect call by the referee change that GF Completely

[@aetd106]

Manly weren't robbed - robbery implies they had a chance but as soon as SBW was in every channel nine promo you knew they were going to be gifted a premiership. Go back and have a look at the wwos Facebook feed from that night. The fix was in big time.

[@viktorgeedorah466]

@@aetd106 can I have you're drug dealers number

[@JamesWilson-me8cs]

"Robbed" lol ok go back re watch the game mate

[@viktorgeedorah466]

@James Wilson the official touch judges we're sacked The NRL sent an official letter of apology to the manly club. Why am I bringing this up ?? Because it's listed In this video as one of the worst decisions / referee calls in history ? Are we on the same level here fellas ?

[@viktorgeedorah466]

The reason of the new rule "captains challenge" was introduced was because of this grand final

[@trunkstrafficschool7514]

The 1999 penalty try is not controversial it’s Cleary the right call

[@tigerwarsaw99]

Do Bruce Mcguire 1989

[@stevespencer8904]

Canberra Raiders 😢

[@ryanbasilio9548]

No.4 didn't matter in the end. Melbourne got the 2009 premiership stripped so Karma won.

[@doylersafl8728]

But parra could've won that game if it weren't for that ridiculous call.

[@martoskingos417]

I don't know who needs to hear this, the 2019 call wasn't controversial. It was the right call.

[@Tisminc]

I agree with you on that.

[@zingherbox]

Does the king respond?

[@gabbyt98]

2:51 I’m a storm fan and I don’t think the Craig Smith penalty try is controversial

[@josephwright4222]

Manly playing the ball backwards in 2011 was pretty bad

[@PAtty1204]

2019 was definetly the worst

[@kw5732]

Lets be clear. The storm never sealed a 2009 win. Filthy cheats.

[@ChordettesFan325]

Video 4399 of commenting #BringBackDislikes on every unique video I watch in 2022. Don’t dislike this video.

[@bethanynixon3202]

Eels

[@johnappleseed2558]

The game if gone soft for the poofters who can't play rugby but now work in nrl admin 😂😂😂

[@schnnellbell3310]

And some of them are are homosex!

[@Nick-by9dh]

100th comment

[@Levon2464]

Storm got robbed hard in the 2006 gf. So many bad calls went against them.

[@iwenttobunnings7868]

They were over the cap in 2006. Wouldn't say they were robbed.