Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall expressed his frustration over two controversial refereeing decisions that he believes significantly impacted their narrow 18-14 defeat to Penrith. He labelled one call “outrageous” and urged the officials to allow players to determine the outcome of the match themselves.
Marshall particularly condemned Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski’s 54th-minute decision to penalise halfback Jarome Luai for a tackle on Penrith kicker Blaize Talagi, which Marshall argued was neither late nor dangerous. The referee’s judgment allowed Nathan Cleary to convert a penalty goal, putting Penrith ahead 12-10.
Just minutes later, Luai was penalised again for allegedly obstructing Penrith’s Liam Martin during a high ball contest. Following the ensuing set of six, Thomas Jenkins scored a hat-trick try for the Panthers, further extending their lead to 18-10.
In the post-match press conference, Marshall expressed sympathy for his players, lamenting that they were not able to influence the result. He remarked, “The game’s so hard and demanding… they didn’t actually get to decide tonight.”
Marshall defended Luai, asserting that while he believes in protecting kickers, the tackle did not warrant a penalty. “He didn’t take his legs out… it was simultaneous when he kicked.” He firmly believed these crucial officiating decisions affected the match outcome and indicated he would reach out to the NRL regarding the matter.
The penalties faced by Luai were also met with criticism from Nine Network experts Phil Gould and Andrew Johns, who labelled the calls “ridiculous.” Although Luai initially reacted strongly to the first penalty, he later downplayed the incident in his press conference, acknowledging the referee’s explanation of his actions.
When asked about Marshall’s frustration over the refereeing decisions, Penrith’s coach Ivan Cleary responded with humour, saying he wished his team had received more penalty opportunities.
Despite the loss, Marshall praised his team’s performance, calling it one of their best of the season. With a current record of 5 wins and 8 losses, the Tigers sit 14th on the ladder and are looking ahead to a bye week before facing the top-placed Raiders in their next match in Campbelltown.