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.
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. (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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Adam
Roar Guru
I still don't know how or why the NRL has interpreted that part of the decision making process was the wrong one (it wasn't or at least 50-50) when the actual incorrect one was allowing the CC in the first place. Although admittedly maybe admitting the judgement call was wrong and not the procedural breakdown absolves them more readily.
Adam
Roar Guru
Baseball had a disco demolition night where everyone basically got drunk and trashed the field. They could do a blow up the bunker day. Get everyone nice and lubricated...
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Well that’s assuming that was the only incorrect decision of the game and that other possibly incorrect decisions didn’t lead to or didn’t prevent more points being scored. Moreover, Annesley’s assessment of the incident is a matter of opinion. In this case the majority opinion, but not unanimous, hence why it became a controversy. Surely there were other decisions that other people have a differing opinion of. Perhaps even Annesley after rewatching the whole game might find others he has different opinion on. In the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s only the referee’s or the video referee’s opinions that matter.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
“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.” NRL admitting the call was erroneous isn't 50/50, it's 100/0.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
What the above probably shows is, there are no laws of the land which are a reference to how the NRL shall administer the rules of the game. I just don't see how a call made in a game can be challenged in courtroom. Results will always go either way on 50/50 calls. The Cowboys/Tigers game was no different.
Bludog
Roar Rookie
At this stage in the season if the Panthers don’t win the minor premiership they’ll have no one to blame but themselves
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If the Cows win the minor premiership do Penrith have grounds for litigation ?
A world without lawyers
Guest
You best believe there will be...but it will be the inner west council that will be bricking themselves, not the Tigers. those kids are going to get more from a minor fall than wrongly accused get after a year 10 stretch in prison.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Seeing the match was between 2 GPS schools I can smell litigation.
Snoopy
Guest
I hope for West/Tigers sake the lawyers were the no win no pay type
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I'm sure we'll here more about the incident at Leichardt at the weekend. There's got to be a buck in it somewhere .
Redcap
Roar Guru
Good of Wests to share some of the legal advice it received. "The difficulty would be in persuading the Supreme Court that: • despite the ambiguity, there was here a clear case of ultra vires such that the Court could determine the justiciability of that; [In other words, stalemate. You might mount a strong argument that the referee and/or bunker exceeded their authority, but the NRL can probably mount an equally strong argument] • is there any utility in the grant of declaratory relief, when, apart from who ends up in the Top 4, very little else turns on the outcome.” [Wests are irrelevant]
Wayne Turner
Guest
On another NOTE:- V'Landys,Abdo,Annelsey,Klein,Butler,etc... All must be sacked. All the rule changes have been terrible under the V'LANDYS error,and have made the refs worse. NRL = No Real Leadership.
Johnny
Roar Rookie
Any sort of legal challenge was never going to succeed. It would only cost both sides money. Even if successful it would not achieve anything except maybe avoid a wooden spoon.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Gutless and sadly predictable Wests Tigers. All talk and no action.
M20
Guest
For a professional competition they sure do look like they're run by amateurs
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
What do they call it. Paper tiger's .