NRL’s latest bunker dramas were line-ball. Will the grand final be so lucky?

September 28, 2026 — 5:00am

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“Someone riding a skateboard out the front could do a better job at the moment. Our game is going crazy.”

Say what you want about the nation’s faith in Canberra, but flabbergasted Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick seems to have tapped into the prevailing public sentiment towards the NRL bunker.

Borthwick was lamenting a critical no-try call against Canberra’s Lili Boyle in Saturday’s 10-point grand final qualifier loss to the all-conquering Roosters, 24 hours after Ashley Klein once again garnered more spotlight than any referee – either on the paddock or in the Eveleigh Street command centre – would ever want.

The NRL has yet to conduct its official review of the Roosters’ 36-20 rumbling of the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

It came with two more divisive calls in a finals series full of them – with on-field official Adam Gee ruling Jamayne Isaako planted the ball inside........

© The Sydney Morning Herald