Waratahs want answers as Super Rugby officials review controversial no-try call

2 days ago 4

A few minutes before midnight on Saturday, the NSW Waratahs made no secret on social media of their frustration at a controversial refereeing decision that went against them at Suncorp Stadium.

The post, which remained live on Sunday, featured a photo of NSW winger Triston Reilly diving near the corner post alongside a screenshot showing a ball appearing to touch the grass – not the sideline – accompanied by a shrugging emoji.

Waratahs winger Triston Reilly dives for the corner. The try was later disallowed by the TMO.

Trailing 19-17 with a little more than seven minutes remaining, the Waratahs thought they had clawed their way back into the lead against the Queensland Reds when referee Ben O’Keeffe awarded the try.

Enter television match official (TMO) Richard Kelly, who told O’Keeffe, with absolute conviction, that the ball had made contact with the line and the five-pointer could not stand.

Dan McKellar’s stunned reaction in the Waratahs coaching box was priceless – his mood not helped by the eventual 26-17 scoreline – and after the match he invited reporters to share their view of the decision, clearly mindful of not wanting to attract a fine.

“If you speak to how they’re refereeing and using the TMO, if the referee awards the try, unless it’s clear and obvious, it stays a try. Is that not right?” McKellar asked.

Dan McKellar couldn’t believe Triston Reilly’s try was disallowed.

On Sunday, figures at the franchise, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Waratahs remained “baffled” by the call in a clash between Australian rugby’s longest-running rivals.

The photo shared by the Waratahs – and confirmed with vision provided by Stan Sport – represents the clearest evidence that NSW may have been hard done by. These are small margins, of course, but the TMO on this occasion did not take a great deal of time coming to a decision.

TMOs in Super Rugby matches control all available footage and camera angles. They can slow the vision down as much as they wish. It is not at the discretion of broadcasters.

Video of the spectacular diving effort, which was replayed on the big screen, can create the impression of the ball simultaneously touching grass and paint when it is grounded. But a single frame could have been enough for the TMO to identify sufficient doubt and defer to the on-field decision.

The Waratahs believe there was not enough evidence to overturn the decision. They feel half the ball was on the grass and the other half in the air and off the line.

Super Rugby Pacific officials declined to comment on Sunday when asked whether the correct call had been made, saying a formal review was scheduled for Monday morning alongside other decisions from the weekend. A statement is expected once the review has taken place.

The Waratahs have asked for a please explain – not only for the Reilly no-try, but also what they believe was an accidental offside in the lead-up to Carter Gordon’s 75th-minute match-winning try.

NSW will argue the ball was picked up by Reds reserve George Blake in an offside position after it came off teammate Tim Ryan. O’Keeffe said the ball had gone back off the Waratahs.

After a bright start to the season, with wins in their opening two matches, the Waratahs have now suffered back-to-back defeats and sit sixth in the 11-team competition.

With the Blues (home), Brumbies (away) and Chiefs (away) to come in the next three weeks, they are approaching a defining stretch of the season.

“If you want to be a top-four side you have to win those moments, and we didn’t,” McKellar said.

“They’re the harsh learnings, and you sit here very disappointed.”