A frustrated Trent Robinson is questioning why Melbourne were awarded a controversial try in the Sydney Roosters’ loss to the Storm.
Back-rower Eli Katoa barged his way over the Roosters’ line midway through the first half at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
But as he fended off Michael Jennings and Luke Keary to ground the ball, replays appeared to show Jennings had been driven off the tackle by Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Taking opposition players out of a tackle is illegal.
But despite replays and several reviews from the bunker, the try was awarded and proved decisive in a six-point win.
Robinson was visibly angry when cameras panned to him in the box and that theme continued in his post-match press conference.
“It’s really clear, they (the NRL) came out at the end of the year and if you lend weight to a tackler in a stationary or forward momentum, then it’ll be stopped,” Robinson said.
“Or if it’s in a try it’s going to be a penalty.
“It’s really quite simple, he (Asofa-Solomona) runs in from distance, touches his player and Jenko (Jennings) and his player scores.
“Did he lend weight to the play? Yes he did.”
Robinson was also left annoyed by the failure of referee Ashley Klein during the build-up to Xavier Coates’ match-winning try.
Melbourne centre Reimis Smith appeared to disrupt the Roosters’ hopes of fielding the ball.
It was telling in a game – arguably the worst of the season thus far, marred by 22 errors and 17 penalties – that all five tries came from final-tackle play kicks.
