The Eels opened the scoring in controversial fashion against the Cowboys with a pass Fox League’s Andrew Voss had “no doubts” went forward.
Parramatta enforcer Isaiah Papali’i threw a wayward pass from dummy-half on the fifth tackle only seven minutes into the clash, which saw Mitchell Moses weave his way forward.
Moses, with his back turned to the defence, lobbed the ball across the field finding Papali’i in space to pass to young gun Will Penisini to score.
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The Cowboys cover defence protested to the touch judge for a forward pass, but referee Grant Atkins waved away the complaints.
“I was convinced the pass was forward from Parramatta, but we can’t go back and check that, lock it in,” Voss said.
“Mitchell Moses after Papali’i threw him a shocking pass, he swivelled and he swung around and the ball has gone forward,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said.
“Well they can’t do anything about it, try confirmed,” Voss said.
“The hands went forward, the hands went forward, the ball went forward,” Alexander said.
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“There is no doubts there, but the Cowboys, just have to put it behind you don’t you,” Voss said.
“They have got to get together, they have been all over them and will now find themselves behind on the scoreboard,” Fox League’s Shane Flanagan said.
After viewing the pass again, Alexander changed his tune, believing there was a possibility the pass was flat — meaning it travelled perfectly horizontal.
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“The more you look at that pass, even though it looks like it goes forward, it went straight across the line,” Alexander said.
“He threw it just in front of it, that angle gave us a different look to what we saw from above, it went straight across the line.
“I stand by my first impression,” Voss said.
The rugby league world clearly agreed the pass should have been pulled back as forward.
