The Bulldogs have sensationally been awarded a penalty try in the final minutes of their loss to the Raiders in the first match of the NRL’s Magic Round.
With three minutes remaining and trailing 34-24, Bulldogs fullback Hayze Perham was taken out without the ball by Raiders forward Ata Mariota two metres out from Canberra’s goal line.
While clearly a penalty, the Bunker determined that Perham would have scored had he not been tackled.
‘That’s awful’: Raiders ‘blow up’ over referee drama amid wild penalty call
Raiders make it four in a row in NRL Magic Round opener
Resurgent Canberra have rolled on, withstanding a plucky Canterbury comeback to notch a fourth-consecutive win as Magic Round got off to a high-scoring start at Suncorp Stadium.
Friday night's 34-30 victory was perhaps the most entertaining of the Raiders' recent run, which comes after a 1-4 start that threatened to bring their season undone before it had truly begun.
The injury-ravaged Bulldogs moved closer to full-strength with the inclusions of Jacob Kiraz, Franklin Pele and Max King but were left to rue a slow start that had them behind 22-6 and playing catch-up for the rest of the night.
Raiders produce Magic win over Bulldogs
What is it about Jack Wighton and controversial referee calls?
Not once, but twice, the Canberra Raiders were controversially denied tries through calls involving Wighton.
But the Raiders held on for a tight 34-30 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Lang Park on Friday night.
