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This is the wide-angle footage that proves Luke Keary was never offside when making the desperate charge-down that helped keep the Sydney Roosters’ season alive.
Not only was Keary onside when Cronulla played the ball on Saturday night, he then needed just over two seconds to sprint 15m to somehow deny Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes from sending the elimination final into golden point.
Luke Keary’s amazing chargedown on Saturday night.Credit: Nine
Sharks fans suspected Keary had come from an offside position because of how quickly he was able to get to Hynes. Those watching at home thought likewise when Keary was nowhere to be seen on the live coverage. But the wide angle proved the five-eighth was onside.
Retiring Cronulla legend Wade Graham smirked when the question was asked about Keary and James Tedesco being offside with an earlier charge-down attempt, while coach Craig Fitzgibbon said, “It’s not up to me to call it.”
Hynes said after the game he should have got further back to take the shot at goal. What helped Keary generate such blistering pace off the mark was the fact he jogged along the tryline and had some momentum behind him before he stepped off the right foot and shot out of the line.
Tedesco said the Roosters had received confirmation from the NRL he and Keary were never offside – which NRL head of elite competitions Graham Annesley reiterated on Monday – and said Keary’s attempt was all the more impressive because of the distance he had to cover.
“People were complaining about us being offside, but the ref got back to us and told us we were both onside,” Tedesco said.
“He could easily have not got there, but we did whatever it took to get a win. Keary’s effort was the biggest of all. Nicho was a bit shallower with mine, then he got deeper for Kez, but Kez came from a long way to charge it down.
“He knew it was coming. It was awareness by both of us to see Nicho in position and then go after it.
“You have to credit Sam Walker as well with his field-goal. He knew Cronulla were coming, but he executed his kick really well.
Yeah baby: Sydney Roosters players celebrate their sixth straight winCredit: Getty Images
“We train for those scenarios at training all the time so we’re prepared for those situations that can win and lose games. We were prepared.”
Tedesco was impressed with how quickly the five-eighth got off the mark, but questioned how much pace the little playmaker would have had at the end of 100m.
“In those moments you run as fast as you can to get the win – it was a massive effort,” the skipper said.
Keary has produced some of the best football of his career this season, especially the back half of the year, which has coincided with the Roosters’ late surge. There has been talk the 31-year-old could decide to play on beyond 2024 when his contract expires.
Meanwhile, Melbourne know they need to bounce back quickly after the loss to Brisbane, a performance star five-eighth Cameron Munster described as “dogs–t” during a post-match interview.
Hooker Harry Grant said on Monday about Munster’s colourful analysis: “I think he was right. We had an off night, everyone was off. The Broncos are a class team, but we didn’t turn up, and made it hard on ourselves.”
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