Ricky Stuart, the coach of the Raiders, has skillfully managed to sidestep questions regarding the Bunker following his team’s contentious loss to the Warriors. In the match, Canberra’s Joe Tapine appeared to score a crucial try near the posts in the 59th minute, potentially putting his team ahead 16-6.
However, after a thorough review, the Bunker controversially ruled a knock-on by Tapine, a decision that significantly impacted the game in favor of the hosts. Subsequently, the Warriors capitalized on this momentum shift by scoring two tries within three minutes, securing their victory.
This wasn’t the first time the Raiders were denied a try under similar circumstances, as earlier in the game, Ethan Strange’s apparent try was disallowed due to disputed grounding.
Despite these contentious decisions, the post-match press conference with Ricky Stuart didn’t address the Bunker issue, with the media instead focusing on the frustration expressed by captain Elliott Whitehead. Meanwhile, Warriors coach Andrew Webster acknowledged that the Raiders had dominated the game before the pivotal Bunker ruling, and credited his team’s ability to capitalize on crucial moments for their victory, despite the immense pressure they faced.