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AAP
AAP
Sport
Sebastian Tan

Stuart blasts bunker after calls go against Raiders

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has reacted to the NRL's use of the bunker. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Coach Ricky Stuart has taken aim at the NRL's bunker, saying it's become too hard to celebrate a try after Canberra were denied twice because of the video referee.

The Raiders stayed strong to defeat Melbourne 26-22 at GIO Stadium on Friday night, and although Stuart labelled it the best 80 minutes of the Green Machine's season, he was left fuming at the bunker.

It came after Hudson Young looked like he had scored in the opening minutes, but his try was scratched after a lengthy review found an accidental offside.

Zac Hosking's late four-pointer was also chalked off after Young had tackled Storm fullback Sua Fa'alogo high in the lead-up.

"What stands out to me is that after last year, it's very hard to cheer after a try," Stuart said.

Hudson Young
Hudson Young had his early try disallowed after the bunker ruled an accidental offside. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

"I used to go off like an idiot, scoring tries and whatnot.

"Unless it's an intercept ... it's hard to cheer because you think about, was he onside? Did he hit him?"

Young's try was a particular sticking point after it was disallowed because two players were touching Will Warbrick when he dropped the ball over the line, before Young scooped it up and scored.

When asked what goes through his mind when a call like that happens, Stuart replied, "negativity".

The league's head of football, Graham Annesley, previously said the bunker has "over-adjudicated" in regards to two controversial disruptor calls to Sydney Roosters centre Robert Toia and North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater last round, which he admitted should not have been penalised.

Graham Annesley
NRL head of football Graham Annesley said recently that the bunker has 'over-adjudicated'. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)

Stuart emphasised that he wasn't blaming on-field referees for the decisions.

"It was certainly a completely different game tonight on the ground, where so much of the football was played after tackles," he said.

"I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but it's hard. It's hard as a coach when you're working on one interpretation and another one happens.

"It'd be just nice to know if that's going to be the way we (move) forward."

Canberra will look to keep building on their momentum after picking up a second consecutive win when they take on the Wests Tigers on Thursday night in Sydney.

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