Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall expressed his frustration over two controversial refereeing decisions that adversely affected his team’s performance in their narrow 18-14 defeat to Penrith. He labelled one of the calls as “outrageous” and urged officials to allow players to determine the outcome on the field.
The first contentious decision involved a penalty awarded against halfback Jarome Luai for a tackle he made on Penrith kicker Blaize Talagi in the 54th minute. Marshall strongly disagreed with the referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski’s interpretation, insisting the tackle was neither late nor high and occurred during the natural kicking motion. Following this penalty, Nathan Cleary took advantage and slotted a goal, giving Penrith a 12-10 advantage.
Less than ten minutes later, Luai faced another penalty for allegedly obstructing Liam Martin while chasing a bomb kicked by Cleary. This led to Thomas Jenkins scoring a hat-trick, further extending Penrith’s lead to 18-10 after a successful conversion from Cleary.
In a post-match press conference, Marshall lamented that the refereeing had deprived his players of the opportunity to decide the game’s fate. “The game’s so hard and demanding,” he stated. He highlighted the significance of looking after the kicker, drawing from his rich experience in the NRL, but maintained that the referee was mistaken in this instance.
Marshall voiced his disapproval, stating, “I agree with them protecting the kicker, but he didn’t take his legs out, he didn’t put him in a dangerous position.” He felt the call was unjust and believed it cost them the match. When asked if he would contact the NRL regarding the penalties, Marshall confirmed he would.
The referee’s decision drew criticism from experts such as Phil Gould and Andrew Johns, who described it as “ridiculous.” Luai reacted with surprise to the penalty during the game but remained silent in the press conference, although he acknowledged the referee’s explanation of the decision being a bit “careless.”
Throughout the game, the Panthers conceded seven penalties while the Tigers had six, reflecting a tense match. Despite the loss, Marshall considered it “one of our best performances of the year,” asserting that his team was the superior side. With a win-loss record of 5-8, the Tigers currently sit 14th on the ladder, awaiting a bye before hosting the leading Raiders in Campbelltown in round 16.