The 2021 NRL finals series kicked off this weekend and were overall a great representation of how great our game truly is on a big stage.

Plenty of points were scored throughout the weekend’s contests and three out of the four games were won by close margins. The minor premiers Melbourne defeated Manly with ease on Friday night, before the Roosters edged out a victory over the Titans in a blockbuster and the Rabbitohs caused an upset by beating Penrith on Saturday, and finally, the Eels held on in a close game to defeat the Knights earlier this afternoon.

While the weekend of footy was a success a big talking point has emerged from two of the games in particular.

In the early stages of the Roosters clash with the Titans, Victor Radley and Tyrone Peachey were in a race for possession of a kicked ball headed into the in-goal area when Peachey grabbed at Radley before he had the ball in hand, with the Bunker deeming that Radley was not denied a clear try scoring opportunity which resulted in Peachey being sin-binned for a professional foul.

Drama early with Titans star Tyrone Peachey sent to the bin for this professional foul. But should it have been a penalty try? 🤔

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Now there is no debating that Peachey did grab at Radley; however, many people are arguing that the Roosters’ lock would have scored a try if not for Peachey’s interruption of his pursuit for possession.

During the game between Parramatta and Newcastle, the Eels had a two point lead in the final moments of the game when Clinton Gutherson put through a grubber for Will Penisini who dropped the ball but was tackled by Newcastle’s Enari Tuala before taking the ball, but this time the Bunker deemed that Penisini would have taken possession of the ball and scored if not for Tuala’s interference.

Should this have been a penalty try? 💬#NRLEelsKnights
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Discussions in Rugby League circles have since begun, as some believe that Penisini was not guaranteed to take clean possession of the ball if Tuala had not tackled him and that he may have dropped it regardless.