Channel Nine commentators Phil Gould and Paul Gallen have been criticised by fans online for comments they made surrounding Jack Howarth’s controversial held-up try in Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.
Gould’s former club, Penrith, wrote their names in NRL history as they claimed their fourth successive premiership, beating Melbourne Storm 14-6.
But a controversial moment has overshadowed the game after many thought Storm centre Jack Howarth had scored just after half-time.
The try would have brought Melbourne back level with the Panthers at 10-10, after Liam Martin had touched down just before the break to give Ivan Cleary’s side the lead.
Howarth had bundled over the Penrith line but was buried under several bodies who had shielded a clear view on whether he had grounded the ball. Referee Ashley Klein initially called ‘no try’ and referred judgment to bunker official, Grant Atkins, who upheld the verdict.
Phil Gould (left) claimed that photos showing Jack Howarth had grounded his disallowed try during the NRL Grand Final had been ‘doctored’
Paul Gallen also controversially claimed that the footage had been ‘photoshopped’
Many fans watching Channel Nine’s broadcast of the game were outraged at the decision, arguing that Nine’s footage had shown the 21-year-old Storm centre appearing to ground the ball.
A string of social media users had posted images and clips claiming the footage showed the try being scored, with some hitting out at the officiating team.
One wrote: ‘Lol. Didn’t the bunker see the ball touched the ground?’
Another added: ‘Storm ripped off 100 per cent a try.’
It appears, though, that officials were correct in their decision, with journalists revealing after the match that the video referees had access to a separate camera angle which was not shown to members of the public on the live broadcast.
The new footage showed that a Penrith player had got an arm under the ball and had prevented the try.
During Channel Nine’s post-match analysis, former New South Wales Origin star, Gallen, had argued that Howarth had not grounded the ball.
‘Well, from what I saw here, I didn’t see it touch the ground, no,’ he told the broadcaster.
‘I thought they [officials] made the right decision. I know there are things floating around on social media at the moment that is pretty clear it shows the ball probably hitting the ground.
‘What I saw on social media and what I saw there isn’t the same. I didn’t see the ball hit the ground.’
Melbourne star Jack Howarth had a try in the NRL Grand Final disallowed on Sunday afternoon
Fans lashed out at the decision, slamming the video referee for ruling Howarth was held up on the line
Vision from Channel Nine’s live feed appeared to initially show Howarth had grounded the ball but the video referee subsequently called it as held up
Fans lashed out at the officials during the match after seeing the footage of the incident
The NRL subsequently released vision showing that the Panthers had held the ball up
Ex-Storm hooker Cameron Smith, pressed the former Sharks star further, asking: ‘Bit of photoshopping you reckon, Gal?’
‘I think so. I mean, honestly, did you see the ball hit the ground then?’ Gallen replied.
‘I don’t think it hit the ground. What I’ve seen on social media wasn’t that,’ he doubled down on his opinion after being pressed further by broadcasting host James Bracey.
‘So, I don’t know how they’ve done it, but in my opinion, I didn’t see it hit the ground.’
Gould, who is affectionately known as ‘Gus’, had been dropped from commentary duties for the match, with Andrew Johns, Billy Slater and Mat Thompson stepping into the hot seat.
He had been calling the NRL State Championship earlier in the day but returned to give his verdict on the controversial moment, concurring with the former Sharks star.
‘I think if the referee ruled ‘try’, they wouldn’t have overruled that,’ the former Panthers player and coach said to Channel Nine.
‘He [Klein] couldn’t have seen it from his vantage point, and then the Bunker really doesn’t have clear vision to overrule it, or clear enough vision to overrule it.
Gould continued: ‘Now, there are a lot of doctored photos on social media trying to say that it did get to the ground, but I guess we’ll have to leave it up to the referee.’
But Gould and Gallen both sparked controversy again in their post-match analysis of the game after they claimed footage appearing online had been altered
Gould’s comments did not sit well with fans online with supporters hitting out at the NRL commentator.
‘Doctored images?’ One wrote on X (formerly Twitter). ‘You’re a b****y disgrace @PhilGould15
‘How you collect a paycheck for your dribble is simply staggering.’
‘Doctored images? What an absolute [clown],’ one wrote on X, posting a ‘clown’ emoji.
‘Paul Gallen calling the images going around on social media [were] fake news. Might have finished my NRL 2024 bingo card,’ one said.
Another added: ‘Phil Gould just being Phil Gould. Embarrassing.’
Fans took to X to question the opinion of the pundits, with one calling Gould ‘a disgrace’
News Corps’ Tim Michell had published Channel Nine’s live footage of the incident on social media on Sunday and was left scratching his head, writing: ‘How can you argue that is not a try?’
One fan responded: ‘What is worse now is blokes like Gould and Gallen are justifying it – the standard of commentary and bias is sickening.’
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