The NRL has confirmed the Wests Tigers were denied a wrong decision by Bunker in the controversial final of their clash with North Queensland on Sunday.
The Tigers were leading 26-25 in Townsville when the full-time siren sounded. Tigers fullback Daine Laurie picked off a short throw from the Cowboys and the play died.
But North Queensland demanded a captain’s challenge, claiming Kyle Feldt had been thrown out of the kick chase illegally.
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The Bunker conceded the penalty and Val Holmes kicked the field goal to change the outcome, with the Cowboys winning 27-26. The Tigers are now threatening legal action.
The Tigers are dejected after losing their Round 19 game against the Cowboys due to a strange Bunker decision. (Getty)
On Monday, NRL football boss Graham Annesley said the referee’s decision to allow a captain’s challenge was correct.
But the NRL says a penalty should not have been awarded for the tackle on Tigers youngster Asu Kepaoa.
“We are not satisfied that there is enough in that incident to justify the Bunker’s decision to award a penalty,” Annesley told the media.
“Yes there was contact, yes there was a collision but we believe the Wests Tigers player involved was heading towards the ball, he didn’t look over his shoulder to see who was coming behind him .
“These are matters of judgment for the officials, but in this morning’s review we don’t think there was enough to award a penalty.”
NRL highlights: Cowboys v Tigers – Round 19
Many pundits had also questioned why North Queensland were allowed to call for a captain’s challenge after the siren.
The captain’s challenge, which was only introduced to the NRL last year, can only be used when the referee stops play. In this case, the umpire made no call except to signal the end of the game.
“In our view, it was permissible under the circumstances, for a number of reasons,” Annesley said.
“You won’t find a specific rule anywhere in black and white that talks about whether you can do the challenge in the last inning when time has expired in the game – you won’t find that anywhere.
“He whistles to stop the game, but that’s not the end of the game. That first whistle is not a full-time whistle, that’s a whistle to stop the game. That becomes a stoppage, and the challenge was mounted on the basis of the escort.
“There are no limits other than it has to be a referee-initiated stoppage, and it has to result in a structured restart, in which case a penalty has been given … which is a structured restart.”
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