Cowboys cry foul over key Bunker calls

COWBOYS coach Todd Payten and co-captain Jason Taumalolo took aim at the NRL Bunker after two controversial calls cost the Cowboys in their 26-12 home defeat to the Cronulla Sharks on Friday night.

In the first half, Coen Hess was pinged for tackling Sharks forward Dale Finucane without the ball on the Cowboys’ own line, allowing Nicho Hynes to slot the penalty.

Then, with the game in the balance in the 59th minute, Taumalolo stormed through to score under the posts, running over a couple of Sharks defenders.

The four-pointer would have put the home side back in front after they trailed the visitors earlier in the game.

But the NRL Bunker ruled that Cowboys hooker Reece Robson had denied Sharks forward Braden Hamlin-uele the chance to make a tackle and disallowed the try.

In the post-match press conference, Payten said he was left confused over both calls.

“A couple of those big moments went against us,” he said. “No doubt that one (the disallowed try) hurts and then they go up the other end and score a try that should have been stopped.

“The game was in the balance, and I don’t like it purely because it rewards the player for having a play off and then the fact that he intentionally runs up the back of the support player.

“I don’t know how he is going to stop Jason either, I think he would have pushed him further into the in-goal area.”

Taumalolo agreed with his coach on the no-try call, saying: “He (Robson) was supporting me and was obviously there. He just can’t disappear and make way for him. He was there for support in case I passed it.”

The earlier incident involving Hess, also left Payten confused. “That was another moment which went against us,” the coach said.

“I don’t know what Coen was supposed to do.

“When a bloke is one metre off the try line and running 100 miles an hour and looking to score a try, he’s going to commit himself to the tackle.

“But it’s also hit him on the outside shoulder, which is black and white and has been all season, so it’s a little confusing and disappointing.”

Payten said his team needed to work on defence ahead of Sunday’s home clash with the Wests Tigers.

“Yes, some moments went against us, but we had enough opportunities with the ball,” he said. “The difference is they defended their line better than we did. We just gave up four soft tries.”