Jack Bostock rejects NRL statement he knocked on before Bradman Best’s controversial try
Updated ,first published
Blues debutant winger Jack Bostock rejected the NRL’s delayed decision that he had kicked the ball before Bradman Best’s match-sealing try at Suncorp Stadium, saying: “I didn’t touch it.”
The tumultuous night in Brisbane effectively ended when Best raced 97 meters for a Blues try in the 57th minute to put Queensland ahead 18-8 to 24-8.
The Broncos full-back drilled a cross into the Blues line on the east end as the Maroons mounted a mini challenge and Reece Walsh’s entry began to revitalize the subdued crowd.
A group of Jack Bostock, Jojo Fifita and Rob Toia took off, but the ball ricocheted out and Best collected the ball and took off upfield, followed by Newcastle team-mate Kalyn Ponga.
Best was too fast – or fast enough – and after a desperate dive to bring down his Blues opponent, Ponga missed and Best raced over to score. It was Best at Suncorp Stadium’s second attempt at a major decider after the recalled center did the same in the drought-breaking third match in 2024 when NSW won.
Maroons players rushed referee Ashley Klein and argued that Blues winger Bostock had finished the match while behind the NSW line.
While Nathan Cleary waited for the all-clear to convert the try, replays on the telecast were vague and appeared to offer hope to both sets of fans.
The green light was eventually given, prompting a chorus of boos and a stunned Queensland legend Cameron Smith arguing on Nine broadcast that justice had not been served.
“It… it went too far… we can’t get it that far wrong, I’m sorry… Bostock had a clear touch,” Smith said.
But Blues great and Nine commentator Brad Fittler made a statement moments later. Officials on the sideline told Fittler that Bunker used unseen footage from the corner post camera to determine that Bostock did not touch him.
Queensland’s try was then denied when Max Plath was ruled out for a small offside clearance and the Blues, hoping for another challenge finish, went on to seal the win and the series.
But Best’s try took a shock turn about an hour after the game when the NRL issued a statement saying the original decision on Bostock was actually wrong.
“After reviewing all available angles, Bunker did not believe there was sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision,” the NRL said in a statement.
“On further review after the match, the NRL believes the ball appeared to have been touched, despite this being an extremely strict decision.”
Speaking on Nine after the match, a furious Smith said Bunker needed to be subjected to serious scrutiny.
“If so [is proven it] touched his hand… We need a serious inspection of the shelter. I’m sorry Queensland lost. Would this change the outcome? Probably not. But it was at a pretty important point in the game,” Smith said.
But Bostock, standing in the Blues dugout after the game surrounded by teammates, family and friends, shook his head when he learned of the NRL’s statement.
“It’s too late for that now,” Bostock said. “If I had touched it I would have felt it, but I didn’t feel anything.
“There was no touch buddy. Everything was clean, they had nothing on and ‘Braddy’ [Best] took it and went to the length. I was very happy for him, he had legs and good defence, so it was a good try. you never know [what the Bunker will rule]They looked at him for a while. But it turned out well for us.”
It was a night like that for Queensland too; It was a game in which the fans at Suncorp Stadium were left silent by uncharacteristic mistakes from the Maroons, aggressive Blues dominance and – in the end – a second consecutive defeat on home soil.
The Blues, who had not won a third game in 19 years in the frightening environment of Suncorp Stadium, got the monkey off their back in 2024 and did it again at the first opportunity.
In Melbourne, Queensland produced a sharp, near-perfect second half, while Brisbane’s first half was a disaster zone.
Maroons fans, who had been drinking pre-emptive celebratory beers on Caxton Street before the game, could only sit quietly as the errors piled up in the opening half-hour. Three consecutive errors and a missed tackle earned Nathan Cleary his first try, and then four missed tackles earned the Penrith star his second try.
Shortly afterwards, when Selwyn Cobbo charged out of his own area, an accidental slip led to Hudson Young headbutting the winger with his shin. Cobbo was stunned but, showing ruthless intent, Cleary rose to his feet, stole the ball in a strip from the Queenslander and Cameron Murray charged in for a third straight try.
The Blues took an 18-0 lead and the game was about to end in surprising fashion. Queensland didn’t know what hit them.
Iain Payten is senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
