NEW Zealand skipper Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been controversially denied a try in his side’s Test match against Australia on Saturday.

Shortly before halftime, new Watene-Zelezniak thought he’d extended his team’s lead after pouncing on a kick from Joseph Manu.

Referee Ashley Klein sent the play to the bunker as a ‘try’, with the video officials looking at a pick-up from Manu in the lead-up to his kick.

“He’s got that, it’s play on,” Penrith supremo Phil Gould said on Channel 9 commentary.

“He’s got that, that’s no worries.”

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns added: “That’s great control, the ball doesn’t hit the ground.”

After multiple replays, the bunker ruled that “Manu’s left hand touches the ball and the ball touches the ground prior to gaining possession. Knock on.”


The ruling came as a surprise to the players, along with Gould, who reacted by saying: “Honestly, they jump at shadows.”

Johns said: “There’s no way in the world he knocked that on.”

The call was a cruel one for the energetic Kiwis, with Australia immediately hitting back with a long-range try to Dane Gagai to make it a 12-8 lead at halftime.