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'Obvious offside': Controversial no-call mars Penrith's win over Melbourne

Mar 25th, 2021
Mar 25th, 2021

Penrith's thrilling 12-10 win over Melbourne tonight wasn't without controversy after the Storm appeared to miss out on a penalty, which would've given them a shot to level the scores in the final seconds of the match.

With less than a minute remaining, Melbourne was forced to kick-off after conceding a try to Panthers back-rower Kurt Capewell, who had just crossed over to put the Panthers in front.

Melbourne went with the short kick-off, which landed above the head of Panthers centre Stephen Crichton who knocked the ball on into Mitch Kenny, who made contact with the ball in what appeared to be an offside position.

Penrith immediately called for a captain's challenge following the on-field decision of knock-on, however, their review was unsuccessful.

Was Mitch Kenny offside? (Getty)

But with replays appearing to show Kenny in an offside position as the ball made contact with him, rugby league great Billy Slater was left stunned the video referee didn't pick it up.

Slater said it looked as if there was an "obvious offside" that was missed, which would've given the Storm the option of kicking a penalty goal to level the match.

"They usually pick this up the video referee," Slater told Nine.

"It's an obvious offside - Crichton obviously touches the ball and then Mitch Kenny picks it up in an offside position.

"You see the ball spin backwards off Stephen Crichton's hand and Kenny's in front of him there.

Justin Olam is held up in a thrilling last-ditch effort by the Storm

"That could've easily been a penalty and Melbourne could've opted to take the two points and level the game up.

"Obviously, Craig Bellamy thought it was a penalty and he was asking his team to captain's challenge."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy admitted he thought Kenny appeared to be offside but opted not to delve too far into the play.

"I thought there was a chance of it being offside," he told reporters after the game

"Apparently it must've come off them and into us. I didn't see it too many times.

"At the end of the day that was the call and there's not much you can do about it now."


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