NRL head of football Graham Annesley admitted the bunker got it wrong in awarding North Queensland a controversial penalty at the end of Sunday’s clash which led to their match-winning penalty goal against the Wests Tigers.
Annesley addressed the media on Monday afternoon and said while the Cowboys were entitled to make a captain’s challenge on the play but conceded bunker official Ashley Klein made a blunder when he awarded a penalty against the last-placed Tigers.
Down 26-25 with one second to play, the Cowboys claimed Kyle Feldt was escorted off a short kick-off and obstructed from reclaiming the ball.
Klein ruled Tigers centre Asu Kepaoa “ran sideways which denies” Feldt the chance to catch it. Feldt was laughing after the verdict was announced and Valentine Holmes stepped up to nail the pressure penalty goal to the delight of the local fans.
Jackson Hastings after Wests Tigers lost the Round 19 match against North Queensland. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
“We’re just not satisfied that there was enough in that incident to warrant the decision of the bunker to award a penalty kick,” Annesley said at his Monday media briefing.
“Yes there was contact, yes there was a collision but we believe that the Wests Tigers player 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 towards the ball but he was heading towards the ball and these are matters of judgment from the officials but on review this morning we just don’t believe there was enough in that to award a penalty and that the on-field challeng should have been at that point dismissed by the bunker as an unsuccessful challenge.”
No penalty was blown on-field but Cowboys captain Chad Townsend made his case to referee Chris Butler before the challenge was allowed.
Annesley was adamant the Cowboys were within their rights to challenge, despite no call being made by the referee on the field.
“You won’t find anything in black and white in regards to what happened yesterday,” Annesley said. “In our view it was allowable in those circumstances.
Valentine Holmes celebrates after kicking the winning penalty goal. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
“The rules around a captain’s challenge talk about you can challenge any decision for the referee to stop the game.”
The feedback will do little to please the Tigers, who are still weighing up whether to launch legal action to try to overturn the result.
“When he says you won’t find these things in black and white, it would be helpful if they were,” Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told AAP.
“The other concern is the decision of the referee and why it was being challenged. They still have not articulated what the decision was.
“Was it inaction? Is that decision? Is it the inaction for an incident that didn’t occur (in the wrongly-awarded escort)? We would like to know that and have it explained to us.”
Hagipantelis said a decision on whether an appeal would be launched would be made “expeditiously”. The issue has also been noted at several other clubs fighting for top-two and top-four spots, with just two wins separating the Cowboys in second from seventh.
Annesley said he could not delve into any potential legal action from the Tigers, but said the result would not be changed.
“I’m not going to make any comment on what the Tigers may do, it’s not up to me. But the referee is the sole judge of fact,” Annesley said. “From the time he blows the full-time whistle. He makes those decisions.”
Cam
Roar Rookie
Saw it as an accident. I have been poked in the eye plenty of times playing footy, only on one occasion was it on purpose. I will tell you something for nothing, you will know the difference when someone is deliberately trying to take your eye out. The Deaden one was an accident.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I did… even though the hand of foran got my team into another week one year. It was just as wrong then as it is now. My sympathy will always be with the team that gets dudded, I don’t really care about the muppets who run then
TA
Roar Rookie
You`re kidding `the poor tigers` Hagipantelis should be ashamed to raise his head given how he and his cronies run that club. They`ve got more to worry about than 2 points. I hope you we`re standing up for the Cowboys when they we`re robbed 2 years in a row in the finals.
TA
Roar Rookie
I agree, he explained it well and he said they didn`t think there was enough in it to warrant a penalty, Klein did. Refs are bagged and dragged through the media mercilessly every week, I think we would all be a bit gun shy trying to arrive at a decision under the pressure these guys put up with. The game provides a lot regulation around concussion now, how about they have a look at the phycology of making decision s and provide some support to the referees. How would Klein be feeling today, how would you be coping. The Tigers have bigger issues to deal with than 2 points deal with your shithouse off field performance.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Viliame can also be a bit moronic at times .You won’t need to worry ,soon he’ll be a grubby doggie
PeteJ
Guest
If the situation was reversed and the Cowboys were wronged this wouldn't even be a news item anymore.
Steven Harris
— COMMENT DELETED —
Cows with guns.
Guest
So would Feldt and Nanai look forward to that. They’d double his try scoring records for sure.
Rob
Guest
What a load of BS. Let’s set precedent that if the Ref makes a boo boo according public opinion from Sydney they can reverse the outcome of a result. Did the Tigers player run a line to inhibit Feldt? What constitutes an escort penalty? Let’s say Nanai is tackled short of the goal line with arm carrying ball grounded and a Tigers player holding his leg. A second player then takes the ball off Nanai after he is tackled. Bunker says it’s fair as he’s in the act of scoring. Wrong he’s in the act maybe making a double movement. Tricky situation because he can’t be penalised because he hasn’t actually placed the ball but the tackle has been effected. Tiger stripped the ball after the tackle was most certainly completed. Bunker technical boo boo. Let’s take the game back off the Tigers and award it to the Cowboys. Hey while we’re at it reverse the 7 tackle try in 2013 semi final. Let’s get onto the ICC and over turn England winning the WC off a incorrect over throw awarded to England while we’re at it. Trump might require your service also.
Rob
Guest
The real problem is Vlandys bringing in all these new rules he has absolutely changed the fabric of the game there was nothing wrong with the game before this fool come in with his slick back hair he looks like a two bit gangster from the 1930s
KenW
Roar Rookie
Courts reviewing outcomes of football games? I'm no expert but seems a massive long shot. The NRL literally write the rules for the competition and can change them whenever they see fit, surely that's a slam-dunk defence to any legal challenge? My own thoughts are that the far more straightforward case of Melbourne starting a play after the bell to win a game a few years back couldn't generate a changed result, then this messier one of interpretations and argued decisions has no chance.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
No. Kikau never escapes scrutiny. Shoulder charge chest high knocked the guy over. Probably caused him to drop the ball playing it. That's as much damage as was caused. He got charged and fined. It was all accounted for. The Dearden gouge was no accident. He qualifies as a Maroon for life. Not for his great play in game 3, but for his grub act yesterday.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I think its been deemed an accident, similar to the Accidental Shoulder from Viliami in the 59th Minute at Penrith on Saturday night
Tez
Roar Rookie
Bloody hell there should have been no captains call and no need for bunker intervention. FFS NRL trust your referees and dump the Bunker.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Putting the Whistle controversy aside .After rewatching the play several time -Kyle and Chad deliberately hatched the plan to create a escorting scenario and following Captains Challenge.Its called Gaming The System and along with gullible Klien has put another nail in the Bunkers Coffin.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
He had one outstretched finger raking at the eye. How much of an accident could it be. Have you bothered to watch it ?
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Go to the NRL site, go to search, type replay, go to Cowboys Tigers game, scroll through to 63m16. Watch in horror.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Graeme, instead of correcting the Bunker the Monday after, any chance you could be part of the Bunker for each game ? Maybe just zoom in from your home office could be easy enough. You are in charge, are you not ? At least this way, there will be no more corrections required, you won't have to keep saying sorry about the 2 points to the losing team, and the buck will finally, and clearly, stop with you.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
One man's Correct Decision is another mans Incorrect decision. As i've said in previous Controversial Bunker calls - they look for the 1 percenters when the 99pc is the obvious call. Originally I was like you believing the Good outweighed the Bad.In recent times the Pendulum has swung to the Bad calls are outweighing its benefits.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
If there's no captains challenge there's no penalty . So the bunker system and captain's challenge were completely wrong . It's a little bit hypocritical of Annesely to say such a stupid statement .