Frizell no-try controversy for NSW in Origin

Joel Gould | May 31, 2023

NSW forward Tyson Frizell was controversially denied a State of Origin try that Queensland assistant coach Cameron Smith believed should have been awarded.

Frizell got over the line in the 23rd minute of Wednesday night’s Origin series opener but Maroons winger Murray Taulagi did a tremendous job to get his hand under the ball before the Blues powerhouse crossed the white stripe.

Referee Ashley Klein ruled no try on-field and then The Bunker had a close look at several angles.

Smith, watching the replay for the first time in commentary on Channel Nine, said: “It looks like part of the ball has touched the turf.”

On a second viewing from another angle it was not clear whether Frizell had got the ball down but Smith doubled down on his initial analysis that “from the previous angle it looked as though some part of that football had touched the turf”.

Bunker official Grant Atkins clearly disagreed, saying there was not enough evidence to overturn the initial decision by Klein.

The Blues were trailing 10-0 at the time but scored in the 32nd minute through Liam Martin to go into half-time trailing 10-6.