Footy world divided by controversial Josh Addo-Carr call in Dragons' win
The Dragons led 26-4 at halftime after a dominant opening 40 minutes and appeared ready to coast to victory at WIN Stadium.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
But the Eels had other ideas, scoring three tries in an 11-minute stretch to roar back into the contest at 26-20.
Then came the moment that will have plenty of people talking.
The Eels moved the ball to the left side of the field with just over 17 minutes remaining, when Sean Russell found Josh Addo-Carr on the left wing.
The man known as the Foxx broke a Corey Allan tackle and passed back inside to Russell, who had clear air in front of him to stroll to the line and give Parra the chance to tie the game at 26-26.
But the touch judge had other ideas, lifting his flag and ruling Addo-Carr had touched the sideline to stun the Eels fans watching on.
When the replay was shown, it was one of the tightest calls you could see on the footy field and far from convincing.
'Addo-Carr is away, it might be 26-26 in a moment,' Andrew Voss yelled on Fox League.
'No the flag is up, a foot over the sideline. Our man is standing by his decision.
'Addo-Carr, left leg down and then the right, where is it? Could be this one. I don't know.
'If it's not, it's as close as you can go. Oh boy.'
Steve Roach added: 'I don't know about that. How could naked eye make a call?
'He had a player down in front of him, how could he see it?'
Voss then clarified the ruling, stating: 'That is incredible that moment, but once the sideline official's flag goes up, the protocol is you don't go to the Bunker. It was going to be 26-all.
'Send some Panadol to the Dragons' box.'
Fans were deeply divided by the incident on social media.
Lui Zacher tweeted: 'Touchie has X ray vision to see through a Dragons player, and CSI: Enhance technology to call Addo-Carr's boot on the line 15 metres away, but someone chucks a forward pass right in front and it's 'I didn't see nuffin'.'
@aotesam wrote: 'I think his foot *just* went into touch … but there is absolutely no way you can call it with confidence.'
Jack Holdsworth said: 'The first time a useless touch judge has ever made a live call and he reckons he's seen 1mm of Addo-Carrs foot on the sideline. Give me a f**king spell.'
Mr_Ives wrote: 'That Dragons Eels touchie could see Uranus without a telescope.'
Gemma Rogers suggested: 'I thought the touchie got that right. Looked like his foot was just on the line.'
LJ declared: 'Parra have been screwed big time there, that was never in touch!'
The Dragons eventually scored another try through Valentine Holmes with five minutes remaining to establish a match-winning lead.
Voss was left hoping Addo-Carr's moment wouldn't be the biggest talking point of a great game of footy.
'There's been so much happening in this game,' he said.
'I know people are going to go back to the Addo-Carr foot on the line.
'If he's in, it's the closest to being out anyway there's ever been and that would be 26-all at that point.
'But I'd rather savour the game at the moment, rather than the controversy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Fish frenzy as AFLW 'super draft' hype gathers steam
Comparisons with the 2001 draft that produced Chris Judd, Luke Hodge and Gary Ablett have already begun. AFLW No.1 draft pick Ash Centra has only played one game, but Collingwood coach Sam Wright doesn't need a crystal ball to believe the teenager could tear the competition apart. Sydney counterpart Scott Gowans had the same to say after watching Zippy Fish light up North Sydney Oval from half-back. The 19-year-old, selected with pick No.5 in last year's first AFLW national draft, finished with 26 disposals and nine intercepts on debut against Richmond. It is the equal-highest disposal tally on debut, a record she shares with Collingwood star Bri Davey - who was 22 when the one-time league best-and-fairest played her first game in 2017. In the years that separate Fish's debut from Davey's, a generation of girls have trekked an uninterrupted pathway to AFLW from Auskick. Fish only started playing football four years ago, adding further testament to her talent. After almost a decade of watching Lance Franklin terrorise opposition defenders, Sydney fans will have to get used to the sight of the No.23 guernsey in reverse. "Ever since I started (playing football), I knew that this is what I wanted to do," Fish said. "And coming out here tonight, having the girls around me and the whole support of the club, it really did meet expectations." Swans skipper Chloe Molloy notices the shift between draft cohorts. "Ball in hand, the cool, calm, nonchalant nature as well," Molloy told AAP. "The decisions she makes coming out of the back line is just second to none - she doesn't even think about it. "You ask her, 'what were you thinking?' and she goes 'not much'. "Just to be so naive of talent - she's just a silky player, and that's what we love." Centra, on limited minutes after a pre-season hip complaint, had only three disposals but clunked a huge contested mark and snagged a goal with her first kick against Carlton. The 19-year-old, as nonchalant as Fish, also introduced a new trick to the footy world. Warming up, Centra bounced the Sherrin behind her and threaded it between her legs. Players in the men's competition have since tried to replicate her. First-round draft picks flaunted their talent across the nation in the season's opening round. Lucia Painter kicked 3.1 from 13 disposals for West Coast, while Gold Coast's Havana Harris stunned with a great pack mark. Essendon debutant Holly Ridewood kicked two goals against GWS, and Adelaide's India Rasheed (one goal, 15 disposals) starred in their loss to St Kilda. Established AFLW star Molloy may have slotted four goals on return from a knee reconstruction, but it was Fish who had a chorus of young girls screaming her name post-game in a bid to get her signature. Among the crowd were 16 family members who made the trip from WA. "I've kind of just gone from one to one," Fish laughed.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘I'm done': Emotional wife scenes spark DCE conspiracy, ‘disconnected' Manly slammed
Manly have been labelled a 'disconnected' team in crisis, with coach Anthony Seibold's job in doubt and Daly Cherry-Evans' body language under the microscope. The Tigers defeated Manly 26-12 on Sunday, handing the Sea Eagles a fourth consecutive loss that all but ended any hopes Manly had of making finals. In the past four games, Manly have scored just 32 points and conceded 116 points — they have looked increasingly uninspired in recent weeks and questions are being asked about the club's future after the dismal loss to the Tigers. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. 'To summarise Manly's performance today, they played like individuals trying to survive themselves without actually connecting together,' Cooper Cronk said on Fox League. Cherry-Evans cut a frustrated figure during the game when he threw an errant pass through the hands of Ben Trbojevic into touch as Manly pressed for a try. The 36-year-old halfback was spotted hugging his kids and having a heartfelt conversation with his wife after the game, which caught the eye of Fox League commentator Andrew Voss. 'There were signs yesterday particularly post match — there was an exchange had with his wife on the fence — it was very much 'last game' areas,' Voss speculated on SEN's V ossy & Brandy. 'It was like he was breaking the news, 'Nah that's it love, I'm done'. There was a very extended conversation, it seemed quite emotional. I thought that seemed a bit strange, three weeks from the end of the season, he's playing on next year, it's not the end of road for Manly. It was unusual.' Voss added: 'In the game, the reaction to the errant pass to Ben Trbojevic, it was emotionally a little over the top for Daly Cherry-Evans. 'Putting those pictures together, I thought, 'There's a player who's going to announce his retirement'.' Cherry-Evans was emotional in the changerooms post-game, sitting with his head in his hands and spotted deep in discussion with Tom Trbojevic and coach Anthony Seibold. 'I'm seeing a lot of weight, a lot of frustration,' Broncos great Corey Parker said when asked about Cherry-Evans' body language. 'To suggest that's it (he's played his last game), I don't know. I know Daly personally and he does things his own way, but I don't know 'that's it'. 'There's certainly something not clicking for the Manly Sea Eagles because they were very poor yesterday.' 'It certainly doesn't help that the side isn't travelling well,' said Greg Alexander. 'It's a totally disconnected team. 'They looked totally disconnected. They've got all these attacking weapons. I can't remember when Tom (Trbojevic) looked like he was going to break the line.' Alexander also savaged Manly five-eighth Luke Brooks, saying: 'Luke Brooks may as well not play, I'm serious, because he offers nothing.' Calls for 'clarity' as DCE mystery drags on Cherry-Evans announced early in the season he would be leaving Manly at season's end, but months later he is yet to confirm which club he is headed to. The veteran playmaker has long been linked to the Roosters, but nothing has been officially confirmed, while the Tricolours may be having second thoughts given the rapid development of young halves Sam Walker and Hugo Savala. Cherry-Evans told last month there was 'no update' on his next destination and he was focused on helping Manly secure a spot in the top eight. Parker said it would be helpful for all parties to some 'clarity' on Cherry-Evans' future. 'There's still talk about where he may or may not go,' Parker said on SEN. 'Everyone's says it's the Roosters and it's a done deal, but no one's got any clarity around it. 'I think the weight and burden of what he's dealing with — he's created it himself — and the lack of performance on the field have come to a head.' Reporter Cody Kaye told Fox Sports News Cherry-Evans announcing he was leaving Manly has undoubtedly played a part in Manly's dip in form. Kaye said: 'You've got to ask the question, 'how much it distracted him? How much it distracted the wider playing group? 'The difference between winning and losing is so small. If everybody isn't on the same page or harmonious, you aren't going to win a competition. 'You're not going to be competitive because if everyone's not pulling in the same direction, you've got a really big problem. I do think players at that club looked around and said, 'Well if the captain's not all in, why will I be?' 'This looks like an unhappy footy side. There's too many weapons in that team. 'Daly's performance yesterday, he never stopped trying. But it's a scattergun approach and I don't know if the guys on that team are fully aware of what Daly's going to do next. 'He cut a really dejected figure in the changerooms after. I've never seen Daly that upset. 'In the background of all this is the constant linking to the Roosters for next year and whether or not the Roosters, having watched Daly's form dip, have got buyer's remorse. There's a lot going on for Daly Cherry-Evans right at the moment. Seibold is contracted as coach until the end of 2027 but disgruntled Manly fans are calling for the coach's head. 'We're sticking solid with 'Seibs',' Manly chairman and owner Scott Penn told the SMH last week. 'We haven't achieved what we want to achieve yet, we're focused on finishing this year strongly, then getting stuck into 2026. The Manly turmoil comes amid reports club officials have instructed workhorse Jake Trbojevic to sit out the last three games of the season following his latest concussion. Cherry-Evans will play his 350th game against the Dolphins on Saturday at Brookvale Oval.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
David Campese said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had ‘no idea'. What does he think now?
Wallabies great David Campese says he is 'eating humble pie' after declaring coach Joe Schmidt had 'no idea' on the eve of Australia's historic victory over South Africa. Campese also revealed he planned to quit social media after he and his family were subjected to a torrent of abuse following the Wallabies' 38-22 triumph at Ellis Park, which snapped a 62-year losing streak at the venue. In the lead-up to Australia's Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg, the outspoken former winger took a shot at Schmidt over his Wallabies selections, which included installing James O'Connor at No.10 after Tom Lynagh, who started in all three Lions Tests, was ruled out with concussion. 'I can see why Joe Schmidt has never won a RWC [Rugby World Cup]. He has no idea about rugby. Clueless. This shows us why,' Campese wrote on X to his 23,000 followers. 'Very happy for James, who should have been on the bench for the Lions. Ben [Donaldson] at 10. Under [incoming Wallabies coach Les] Kiss, it is not going to look any better.' Campese said he was not criticising the selection of O'Connor for the Springboks Test because he believed the 35-year-old should have been involved in the Lions series off the bench. With O'Connor playing his first Test in three years, Australia trailed 22-0 before pulling off a famous win at altitude. Former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons wrote on Sunday: 'Rugby Australia ought to put David Campese on retainer and get him to do what he now does best: bag the Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and say our blokes can't win – only for them to EXPLODE in most magnificent fashion.'
