Todd Payten, coach of North Queensland Cowboys, voiced his frustration over the officiating in the recent NRL match that ended in a draw against the Penrith Panthers. Both coaches, including Ivan Cleary from the Panthers, highlighted critical refereeing issues that impacted the game’s outcome.
During a press conference, Payten particularly expressed discontent with two pivotal moments. One involved a high tackle penalty against Murray Taulagi, which he felt was unwarranted as the opposing player, Liam Henry, had simply fallen into Taulagi’s chest. This penalty was followed by another incident where Isaah Yeo tackled Viliami Vailea high without any penalty being called, provoking considerable frustration. Payten remarked that the inconsistency of the refereeing decisions was bewildering, especially when a penalty was issued for what he deemed a lesser offence.
“That’s a game-changer,” noted Kevin Walters in response to the call against Taulagi, as the Panthers capitalised on the situation to score. Payten also shared concerns regarding a forward pass that led to a try by the Panthers, asserting that such errors from referees can significantly affect the game’s outcome.
In his assertive remarks, he called for referees to consistently enforce the rules correctly, stating, “They’re paid to make the right call at the right time.” He planned to address these issues with the NRL but expressed scepticism about accountability, suggesting that players face consequences for errors while referees often do not.
Cleary also voiced his frustrations post-match, particularly regarding a missed off-side call on Scott Drinkwater. He felt several obvious penalties were overlooked, which he believed could have altered the match result. “There were at least three kick-pressure penalties we should’ve received,” he lamented, reflecting a broader narrative of dissatisfaction with officiating in the league.
Both Payten and Cleary’s comments illustrate a growing concern within the NRL regarding the standard of officiating, as coaches navigate the fine line between strategising for victory and dealing with the unpredictability of referee decisions.