The bunker is back under the microscope after another controversial NRL decision. This time, Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is asking why one try was awarded when similar incidents have been ruled differently all season.
The controversy came during the Titans’ 38-32 win over the Manly Sea Eagles, when Reuben Garrick was awarded a try despite appearing to lose control of the ball before grounding it. The bunker upheld the on-field decision, sparking immediate debate among players, commentators and fans.
The incident occurred late in the second half.
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Garrick dived for the corner under heavy pressure, with replays showing the ball moving as it made contact with the turf before eventually being grounded. After reviewing multiple angles, the bunker ruled there was insufficient evidence to overturn the referee’s on-field decision of a try.
Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui wasn’t convinced.
Speaking after the match to Wide World of Sports, the Queensland forward questioned the consistency of bunker rulings, pointing out that similar tries had been disallowed earlier this season.
“If that’s a try, then a lot of other tries this year should’ve been tries too,” Fa’asuamaleaui said, calling for greater consistency in the way the bunker interprets grounding decisions.
The decision immediately divided opinion.
Commentators and fans took to social media to debate whether Garrick maintained enough control throughout the grounding process, with many arguing the incident highlighted the ongoing inconsistency surrounding one of the game’s most scrutinised rules.
It’s far from the first time the bunker has dominated the headlines.
Throughout the 2026 season, several contentious rulings involving grounding the football, knock-ons and obstruction decisions have fuelled calls for greater transparency from the NRL‘s video review system. Critics argue fans and players are often left confused when seemingly identical incidents produce different outcomes.
Despite the controversy, the ruling ultimately stood.
Manly’s try was awarded, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Titans from claiming a crucial 38-32 victory at Cbus Super Stadium. The result kept Gold Coast’s slim finals hopes alive while handing the Sea Eagles their fourth loss in five matches.
Whether the bunker got this one right will remain a matter of opinion.
But one thing is certain—questions over consistency aren’t going away anytime soon.
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