Fans are excited about the decision Ivan Cleary made today.

Fans are excited about the decision Ivan Cleary made today.

Because of Ivan Cleary’s choice today, fans are thrilled. Ivan Cleary and Craig Bellamy, two seasoned NRL coaches, disagreed with the Bunker’s pivotal decision during their teams’ close Friday night battle.

In the 49th minute, the Panthers appeared to have scored their first try of the game when it was determined that Jarome Luai had run behind a teammate during the build-up.

Replays revealed that a possible obstruction would have prevented Storm defenders from scoring; hence, the Bunker overruled the original try call made by referee Gerard Sutton.

“Jahrome Hughes decides to enter the game and stop the lead runner, but Jarome Luai intercepts the ball and runs through, disrupting Melbourne’s defensive line because everyone then must cram in,” the Bunker representative stated.

After the attempt was ruled out, Melbourne marched down field and scored the game-winning touchdown from the resulting penalty, and they managed to hang on for a grueling 8-0 triumph.

When questioned about it at his press conference following the game, Panthers coach Cleary expressed dissatisfaction with the officials’ response.

“Well, I have to be careful here, but someone has to be obstructed if there is going to be an obstruction rule,” replied Cleary.

“They also mentioned that Jahrome Hughes made a defensive move there, and it’s just one of those things, I believe.

Cleary would not be drawn when asked if he believed that the referees have occasionally “over-officiated,” but the coach, who had won a premiership, was obviously irritated.

Bellamy acknowledged that the call altered the outcome of the game, but he concurred with the referees that the call constituted an obstruction.

Bellamy stated, “If that try they scored had been allowed, but it wasn’t; he ran behind his own man.” Things may have turned out a little differently.