Rugby League: Melbourne Storm ‘Impressive’ Penalty Controversy Shakes NRL Grand Finals As Craig Bellamy Flies

Andrew McMurtry for news.com.au

The 2020 Grand Final got off to an impressive start with a penalty try awarded just four minutes into the game when Melbourne Storm drew first blood before beating Penrith 26-20.

Placing the ball in good field position after a Panthers error, the Storm swerved.

Winger Josh Addo-Carr was tackled, but passed the ball inside to his center Justin Olam, who dived into the corner, but referee Gerard Sutton sent the call as a no try.

The bunker checked the sideline and then saw the ball dislodged by the knee of Panther Tyrone May, who kicked with his leg in an effort to stop the try.

The more Bunker Officer Steve Chiddy watched the play, the more the Channel 9 commentators began to point out that it was a possible penalty shootout.

It is illegal for a defender to kick the ball out of reach of an opponent with his feet because it is considered dangerous play.

The bunker returned it as a penalty trial, the first penalty trial in a Grand Final since 2013.

“Tyrone May has used his foot to kick the ball out of Justin Olam’s possession. In our opinion, we think a try would have been scored,” Chiddy said.

The Panthers immediately protested to captain James Tamou to whom Sutton said, “You can’t kick him, buddy. He thinks he kicks the ball.”

Phil Gould called the decision “incredible,” clearly disagreeing with the decision.

“I don’t know what Tyrone May could have done differently there,” Gould said.

“It is not what I would call indiscriminate kicks, but the referee ruled that he has played the ball with his foot.

“That’s an amazing start to this game. Impressive.”

But although social media was somewhat divided, the main feeling was that it was a good decision.

The news turned from bad to worse for Panthers, who went to strike back.

The Panthers were pushing hard toward the Storm line when it appeared Josh Mansour fell into the corner.

But it was returned when Stephen Crichton was called in for obstruction.

As the game progressed, nothing seemed to get in the way of the Panthers with the Storm advancing to a 22-0 lead at halftime.

The Storm would go up 26-0 before the Panthers broke through in dramatic fashion, scoring the final four attempts of the game after a series of controversial decisions against the Storm.

The first allowed Isaah Yeo to set up a try after running around his own teammate on a clear obstruction.

In the second, running back Jahrome Hughes was sent to the sin bin with nine minutes left after the NRL Bunker ruled that he had committed a professional foul by taking out Villiame Kikau.

With the Storm reduced to 12, and then 11, men in death, the Panthers nearly pinched him.

But the Storm proved that his class withstood the attack and emerged with a famous final grand triumph.

The tension also got the better of Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who was caught on camera collapsing in the coaches’ box in the final seconds.

Shortly after Nathan Cleary scored to make the score 26-20, Bellamy was spoiled.

Channel 9 cameras focused on their coaches’ box, where the experienced mentor could be seen yelling furiously before walking to the back of the room and shoving his boot into a chair.