Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has taken the unusual step of weighing into the NRL bunker controversy, comparing the decision process to like going to the High Court.
Just a day after NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton admitted his officials made the wrong call in awarding St George Illawarra's Nene Macdonald a try late in their Anzac Day win over the Sydney Roosters, Morrison emerged as an unlikely critic of the system.
"I find the bunker thing very frustrating," he told Macquarie Radio on Thursday.
"It slows down the game and, honestly, you've just got to blow the try. I remember when I used to play, you just had to blow the whistle and you dealt with what's going on.
"I think fans want to see the game move and people make the calls.
"Sometimes, it feels like you've got to refer the whole damn thing to the High Court when someone scored a try."
Bunker officials claimed at the time of the decision they had insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field call of try, but Sutton later disagreed.
"Having reviewed the decision, it can be seen the ball rotates, which indicates possession has been lost," Sutton said.
Regardless, if on-field officials had followed the treasurer's wishes and made their call immediately, an incorrect ruling of try still would have been given.
His history of mixing politics with sport goes back to his position of No.1 ticketholder at Cronulla.
