The kicker for me is how Chambers slowed down and took an eternity to play at the ball. Smith would not have seen where the ball is and from that angle, the ball would have disappeared in front of Chambers so Smith had every reason to believe that old mate had the ball and was about to ground the ball for a try. Some responsibility must be placed on Chambers to not fuck around and effectively shepherd the ball from Smith having a fair go at it. Smith should be entitled to play at the man so for me NO TRY!
Very well said! And I don't think the shepherd needs to be deliberate.
When you are positioned between the ball and the offender in the attacking in goal, there is no way we should be making it hard for the defender to prevent a try. It is pathetic and a snowflake mentality to be giving the defender a hoop-jumping exercise so attacking players get free passes. You should allow the defender (with no harm being the only condition e.g. head high, knees, spear tackle etc) to do what it takes to prevent the try scorer. We are expected to have this silly notion that you need to somehow follow these little technical rules when you have no full vision, no time and total desperation in your intent to do the only thing that matters - STOP A FUCKING TRY. You can tell that the rule makers were not in their footy-playing brains when they made up shit rules like this.
The clear line for me is that Chambers was between Smith and the ball with no time to waste. Smith therefore is allowed to rush into Chambers with the hope it will prevent him from getting to the ball. I think this, however, should only be applicable in the in-goal in the act of preventing a try and there has to be a direct line of impedance between defender, the attack and the ball. Also, if the attacker has one foot on the try line when the impact happens, then that should also be deemed in the in-goal and allowed.
This game is hard to officiate at the best of times, but we have to protect the physical nature and the spirit of the rules and not get caught in treating players like powderpuff snowflake fairies that need precious rules to protect their delicate attempts to score a try to impress their nanna ffs.