Drop ball or drop kick?
In the second elimination final, the Eels put the nail in the Novocastrians’ coffin with a penalty try in the shadow of full-time.
In the lead-up to the play, Parramatta fullback Clinton Gutherson grubbered into the in-goal. Rookie Will Penisini gave chase but was ruled to have been impeded by Knights winger Enari Tuala in doing so.
A penalty try ensued but punters were left scratching their heads given Gutherson appeared to have dropped the ball immediately prior to his kick.
Annesley clarified that, provided his intention was to kick the ball, Gutherson was legally able to perform a drop kick, even if he was not attempting a field goal.
“He’s definitely moving his foot towards the ball, so he’s certainly attempting to kick it. I don’t think there’s any suggestion that the ball accidentally hit his foot,” Annesley said.
“Although it’s arguable about whether the ball hit the ground before the boot hit the ball, it actually makes no difference.
“People tend to only think of drop kicks as field goal attempts but any player can drop kick the ball in an any position on the field.
As long as (Gutherson) is always attempting to kick it … under the laws of the game, it is still a drop kick and it’s not a knock-on.”
Penalty try?
Annesley also explained why the Eels were awarded a penalty try, while the Roosters were not, following a similar incident in the first elimination final.
In the win over Gold Coast, Roosters forward Victor Radley chased a kick through the line and looked likely to score before Titans utility Tyrone Peachey interfered with him.
Given Titans fullback Jayden Campbell was also very close to the play, Annesley said that, unlike in the Eels game, the bunker could not be certain that the offensive player would have scored. Therefore, a penalty try was not awarded.
“Campbell’s in a position to make a tackle,” he said.
“There is still an opportunity that Campbell could have prevented that try from being scored, by knocking the ball out, by holding him up. Maybe he still loses the ball in the course of the tackle.
"There’s no doubt that Peachey’s actions constitute a professional foul … a sin bin and a penalty I think is the right decision here, primarily because of the positioning of Campbell.”
Fox sports
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I have never believed Annersley but this time I fully agree LOL . No he does make sense this time . I hope they post this on the Knights web site .
The ball scraped Guthos foot before it hit the ground anyway.
Not according to Gutherson.
knock on if not for bunker as plain as day , but i was happy lol
Annesley also defended the Roosters wall when Williams kicked the field goal.
The blokes a flog.
In regards the intention block in the Roosters Titans game, he said that the defender was not obstructed because he was able to get between the wall in an attempt to diffuse the kick.
A terrible interpretation as the players positioned themselves there purposely to block the defender.
If it happens again , and it surely will in similar circumstances, then the defender has to throw himself to the ground in a comical way exaggerating how he was blocked.
Which is exactly what fans don't want to see, but the NRL are almost forcing players to dive for penalties. Same as the Dylan Brown obstruction against the Knights. If he falls to the ground and doesn't get up, you can guarantee the Eels get a penalty.
Yep
Nevertheless, that Eels try is already being discussed by the footy talking heads as "but it hit the ground", despite the rules saying one can drop kick from anywhere. Do it makes no difference if it hit ground or foot first, drip kicks are always fine so long as the intent is to kick. Issue should be over EXCEPT the footy talking heads don't like praising the Eels. Can you imagine if Teddy or Walker did that to Chooks, or Cleary for Panthers, or Turbo for Manly? The play would be on the highlights package as "the brilliant ... blah blah blah".
Eels need to shut commentates up by winning. That's the only way. Lose and the critique was a self fulfilling prophecy.
-I've allways though there's a drop kick goal or definitely knock on?
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