- Melbourne had a try disallowed in the second half
- Penrith would go on to seal their fourth premiership title
- Follow Mail Sport’s NRL Grand Final live blog HERE
Footy fans have lashed out at officials during the NRL Grand Final claiming that the referees needed to ‘go to Specsavers’ after disallowing a Melbourne Storm a try in the second-half.
With Penrith taking a 10-6 lead into the second-half, Jack Howarth had appeared to bundle his way over the try line.
The onfield referee, Ashley Klein, was unable to definitively confirm whether the ball had been grounded, referring instead to the bunker review system.
But after reviewing the footage, the video referee confirmed that the Storm centre had not grounded the ball, much to the distain of many fans online, who believed it was a try.
‘Bunker needs to go to @SpecsaversAU That was a try #NRLGF,’ one wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Jack Howarth had a try in the NRL Grand Final disallowed on Sunday afternoon
Fans lashed out at the decision, notably slamming the video referee for ruling Howarth was held up on the line
One fan claimed that the bunker review system should ‘go to Specsavers’ after the decision
Another added: ‘Lol didnt the bunker see the ball touched the ground.’
‘@NRL ensuring that the NSW bias is as strong as ever,’ one claimed.
‘Storm ripped off 100 per cent a try,’ one wrote.
Another said: ‘NRL Grand Final. Bulls*** bunker.’
Melbourne had opened the scoring in what was a hotly contested clash.
Captain Harry Grant would drive through the Panthers’ defence to take first blood, with Nick Meaney kicking the conversion.
Fans have lashed out at officials after Jack Howarth was disallowed a try during the NRL Grand Final
The defending premiers would hit back with Sunia Turuva dotting down in the corner, narrowly avoiding the touchline with a brilliant try.
Penrith would take the lead just before the break, with Nathan Cleary setting up Liam Martin beating several defenders to crash over.
After Howarth’s try was called as held-up, Penrith struck a cruel blow on Melbourne, with Paul Alamoti crashing over to extend their lead to 14-6.
And the Panthers would hold out against Melbourne’s late comeback, to clinch their fourth consecutive premiership title.
