03-05-2025
Dragons dudded in incident that went unnoticed as 'worst play ever' stuns NRL
Shane Flanagan must be scratching his head in disbelief at how his Dragons side lost to the Wests Tigers on Saturday night. An explicable bombed try from Dragons forward Jaydn Su'A seconds before halftime was clearly the turning point, but many viewers thought the Red V were also dudded by a first half try to Tigers winger Charlie Staines, which appeared to come off the back of an offside offence that went unnoticed by officials.
The two teams traded tries in an exciting opening to the game, with the goal-kicking of Adam Doueihi the only difference as the Tigers led 12-10. But Doueihi helped Benji Marshall's men extend their lead in the 12th minute, despite appearing to be offside from a cross-field kick from Jarome Luai that set up the try.
Doueihi caught the kick unchallenged before offloading the ball before he could be wrapped up in the tackle, with the Tigers shifting the ball to Staines to dive over in the corner. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss remarked that Luai left it very late to get the kick away, amid suggestions his Tigers teammates had run past the playmaker into an offside position.
Despite replays appearing to show Doueihi's body in front of Laui when he kicked the ball, the Bunker did not deem there was sufficient evidence to overturn the try. But viewers were convinced the Tigers' four-pointer should not have stood, with many taking to social media to argue their case and point out that Doueihi was in an off-side position before setting up the try.
Add VAR lines to rugby, in no way are both the chasers feet even close to behind the ball…#NRLTigersDragons
— hypno (@04hypnoo) May 3, 2025
NRL bunker, refs and entire commentary box gotta be blind #NRLTigersDragons no one said a thing
— James Topping (@jimmythetopp) May 3, 2025
#NRLTigersDragons how was that try confirmed?? Did they change rule? Players can be in front of kickers?!?!? @NRL do better come on
— Tyler (@Ty_ker1) May 3, 2025
Refs decide more games than players this season #NRLTigersDragons
— Jeremy Cowin (@jez149) May 3, 2025
The try helped the Tigers jump out to a six-point lead that soon became 10 after Samuela Fainu also got amongst the points. Dragons co-captain Clint Gutherson then did brilliantly to prevent a 40/20 kick from Api Koroisau as the Tigers threatened to go further ahead. And the Red V looked to be rewarded for their resolve when Su'A was put over the try line in the dying seconds of the first forty.
RELATED:
Tedesco lands telling blow on Edwards in message to Laurie Daley
Burgess 'interested' in NRL coaching role as Arthur 'aura' shot down
Fans demand answers to Souths 'curse' after $25 million switch
The Dragons did brilliantly to keep the ball alive and create a three-man overlap that saw Su'A destined to score as he charged towards the try line and dived over almost untouched. But the Dragons forward somehow managed to drop the ball in the in-goal when it appeared easier to score, and Tigers fullback Jahream Bula scooped up the loose ball and ran 100m to score at the other end.
Fans described it as one of the worst plays they've ever seen in the NRL and Dragons coach Flanagan admitted after the game that the incident was match-defining. 'I thought it was a big turning point,' Flanagan said. 'Like we go half time 20-16 and we scored tries and once again had a few play the balls in their 20m zone and it would have been 20-16 but it wasn't to be.
'I loved in the second half that we showed some grit and came back to get them because to go to 26-10, that's a big turn around, a 12-point turn around. To show some resilience and grit to come back I thought it was good. Then we had opportunities to nail it at the back end and we just didn't do it and just pointing that way.'
Tigers coach Marshall admitted his side got lucky with the pivotal Bula try and was not entirely happy with his side's numbers of errors, despite the win. "I'm a little bit angry and happy at the same time, because he (Su'A) should've scored. For Jahream to pick it up and keep playing, you've got to make your own luck sometimes," Marshall said. "I don't want to sound like I'm negative about winning but there's just so many things we can do better."
Flanagan and co-captain Damien Cook said too many mistakes cost them the chance to snatch victory against a Tigers side that has now jumped into the top-eight after their fifth win of the season. But it was the game's most extraordinary gaffe from Su'A that ultimately proved the most costly and left viewers in a state of disbelief.
That's the worst nrl play of all time no debate
— (NRG)Crispxx (@crispxxcy) May 3, 2025
That was amazing. Imagine being known for arguably now the worst bombed try EVER. 😆🤣 #NRLTigersDragons
— BT85 (@BT855) May 3, 2025
Thats gotta be the most painful try for fans to watch in NRL History 😂😭 sorry Dragons fans 😂Su'a Dropped the ball over lineBula runs 100m to score#NRLTigersDragons
— Ouch (@pkerr17) May 3, 2025
That is the worst Bombed try I have ever seen. I feel bad for done Bula, 105m for a great try. Let's go Tigers 💪#NRLTigersDragons
— Andy Hayward (@ninjaknight111) May 3, 2025
