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'We know it, everyone knows it': Tigers drop legal threat over bunker blunder but deliver backhander to NRL

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8th August, 2022
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Wests Tigers have opted against mounting a legal challenge against the NRL over the Round 19 bunker blunder which cost them victory against North Queensland but have delivered a backhander to head office over its handling of the matter from start to finish.

After the controversial 27-26 loss, club chair Lee Hagipantelis was so furious over the bunker blunder which robbed his team of victory against the Cowboys that he threatened legal action.

They have decided not to pursue the matter in the courts but in a lengthy rebuke to the NRL, the club made its feelings known that the wrong result will stand for the match.

“We extracted a concession from the NRL that the obstruction penalty which was given was erroneous and therefore, by implication, Wests Tigers should have won that match. We know it, everyone knows it. Unfortunately, the history books will not record it that way.”

The Tigers said they did not believe a legal challenge would be in the best interests of rugby league.

“Litigation is, at best, inherently risky and Wests Tigers is not prepared to commit to what would be speculative litigation particularly in light of the cogent arguments which are available to both parties,” they said.

Hagipantelis first spoke to ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo about the blunder immediately after the game which ended in a controversial last-second call from Ashley Klein which gifted the Cowboys a penalty goal to win in Townsville.

With the final kick-off of the game, the bunker ruled Kyle Feldt was impeded in the chase for the ball by Asu Kepaoa even though replays appeared to indicate the Tigers centre was looking directly at the Steeden, not his opponent when they collided.

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Bunker official Ashley Klein ruled Kepaoa “ran sideways which denies” Feldt after a captain’s challenge from Chad Townsend. 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.

The NRL also issued a statement on Monday to say the competition points will remain with North Queensland while conceding errors were made.

James Tamou of the Tigers speaks with the referee

James Tamou of the Tigers speaks with the referee. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“The NRL has acknowledged the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers and in response has put forward its interpretation of the rules which enabled the Captain’s Challenge to be made and the subsequent decision of the bunker match official,” according to the NRL statement.

“The NRL has already acknowledged that the Bunker official decision of “escort” was incorrect, leading to the erroneous awarding of a penalty in favour of North Queensland Cowboys which ultimately decided the match.”

The NRL maintains the captain’s challenge “was permissible in terms of how the rules were drafted, the NRL and the Wests Tigers expressed differing views and interpretation”.

However, it has admitted “in light of the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers, that the rule needs to be reviewed at the end of the season to provide more clarity so as to ensure that there is no future misunderstanding as to the intent and application of the rule”.

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