Cooks Islands try stirs controversy for PNG

LONDON: Controversy erupted at the Rugby League World Cup after Papua New Guinea were awarded a contentious try against the Cook Islands.
PNG captain Rhyse Martin played a key role in keeping his country’s Rugby League World Cup hopes alive with a 32-16 win over the Cook Islands on Tuesday (local time).
The Kumuls skipper scored a try and kicked four goals in front of 6,273 fans at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington as PNG bounced back from last week’s narrow loss to Tonga.
However, many believed that PNG should have won by more after Cook Islands star Anthony Gelling was awarded a controversial try in the dying stages.
The on-field referee awarded Gelling the try after he spun out of a tackle and attempted to ground the ball with his back towards the in-goal.
Replays appeared to clearly show that Gelling actually dropped the ball and didn’t get any downward pressure, but the video referee inexplicably confirmed the on-field call.
“The Kumuls are really not happy with that, for me he didn’t seem to have control of it when he grounded it,” James Graham said in commentary for Fox League.
“Another controversial decision that goes against the Kumuls.”
Andrew Voss added: “They are shaking their heads saying ‘when are the rugby league gods going to shine a light on us’.
“I can’t give that a try. It is going towards the dead ball line, the way he is pushing the ball.”
– AAP