Cowboys supporters are outraged following footage of a Penrith trainer drenching the football with water during Saturday night’s nail-biting 30-all draw. The clip, shared widely on social media, captures the trainer pouring water from a bottle onto the ball just before fullback Dylan Edwards resumed play with a kickoff.
The NRL has confirmed it is investigating the incident and will determine on Monday whether any action will be taken against the reigning champions. A wet ball can make it considerably more challenging for players to catch during kickoffs, which has added fuel to the fire of angry fans. Many took to Facebook to express their discontent, with some declaring the behaviour to be “not cricket.”
While the rulebook does not explicitly prohibit altering the condition of the ball, actions that could unfairly impact the game may still be subject to penalties under general fair play regulations.
The match held in Townsville was lauded as one of the season’s most thrilling, with the Cowboys battling back from 12 points down twice to even the score. After going into golden point at 30-all, both teams missed opportunities to secure victory in the extra time.
Wide World of Sports has reached out to the Panthers for their response to these allegations.