Despite a huge backlash on social media by fans blowing up at the Bunker's call, Cooper Cronk explained that the referees were correct, but it was a "cover-up".<\/p>\n
"It was an absolute circus because that was a forward pass every day of the week," Cronk told Fox League.<\/p>\n
"The officials missed it and they went and awarded the try.<\/p>\n
"But then the bunker came into play. It's the best cover-up I've seen in a long, long time.<\/p>\n
"The letter of the law is – once you lose control of the ball rolling out and you propel it on, it's called a juggle. Basically a forward pass.<\/p>\n
"You need to hold on to possession. Regain, re-grip to make a pass.<\/p>\n
![\"Mulitalo's](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/07\/367875\/pickerImage.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
"The bunker and the referees have got it right, but the bunker interfered to make sure they got it right in the end. It was a real circus and mix up. They stuffed it up."<\/p>\n
Former NRL star James Graham was stunned the forward pass play even unfolded after the referee missed an obvious professional foul on Cronulla's Ronaldo Mulitalo just moments before.<\/p>\n
"To me, it shouldn't have even gotten to that," Graham added.<\/p>\n
"That passage of play, you go back before and Ronaldo Mulitalo holding back Kotoni Staggs on the try-scoring opportunity through the kick.<\/p>\n
"For me, that has got to be a penalty at minimum, at the very least. If they get that right, that second matter doesn't come into play<\/p>\n
"That was a huge momentum turner."<\/p>\n
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