The NRL has admitted the call that cost the Tigers a stunning win was wrong. Now they have another problem.
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Should not have been a penalty: NRL admits error in Tigers-Cowboys call
The NRL has admitted the bunker got it wrong with a contentious call that denied the Wests Tigers a stunning win over North Queensland on Sunday.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley has stood firm in the belief the Cowboys were within their rights to issue a captain’s challenge on the last play of the game, but conceded the final call made by the bunker was incorrect.
The Cowboys trailed by one point when they claimed Tigers centre Asu Kepaoa had run winger Kyle Feldt off the ball from a kick-off with one second remaining on the clock. No penalty was awarded on the field but North Queensland captain Chad Townsend was allowed a challenge.
Bunker official Ashley Klein then opted to award a penalty to North Queensland, in turn giving Valentine Holmes a shot at a match-winning penalty goal, in a decision that has left Tigers officials seething.
“We’re just not satisfied there is enough in that incident to warrant the decision of the bunker to award a penalty,” Annesley said.
“Yes, there was contact, yes, there was a collision. We believe the Wests Tigers players involved was heading towards the ball, he didn’t look over his shoulder to see who was coming behind him. Yes, he ran a slightly strange line to head towards the ball but he was heading towards the ball.
“These are matters of judgement for the officials, but on review this morning we just don’t believe there was enough in that to award a penalty. The captain’s challenge, at that point, should have been dismissed by the bunker as an unsuccessful challenge.”
Annesley remained adamant the Cowboys were within their rights to challenge, despite no call being made by the referee on the field.
“These are matters of judgement for the officials, but on review this morning we just don’t believe there was enough in that to award a penalty. The captain’s challenge, at that point, should have been dismissed by the bunker as an unsuccessful challenge.”
Annesley remained adamant the Cowboys were within their rights to challenge, despite no call being made by the referee on the field.