A new twist in the controversial Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys competition has been unveiled – and James Tamou was the first to spot it.
The Tigers are considering taking legal action against the NRL over the game’s dramatic ending after an escort penalty was imposed with a second on the clock, allowing the Cowboys to claim the win.
And in a twist that will rub salt in the Tigers’ wounds, it was revealed that North Queensland should have been punished ahead of the chaotic final moments.
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The Tigers should have been awarded a penalty after Cowboys center Valentine Holmes crossed the halfway line at kick-off.
“A player who kicks in or folds shall be penalized if he advances in front of the appropriate line before kicking the ball,” states the Rugby League Laws of the Game.
Tigers skipper Tamou, playing his 300th game, tried to capitalize on his side’s remaining captaincy challenge in hopes the bunker would concede the penalty.
But the on-field referee, Chris Buttler, wouldn’t let it happen.
“Can I dispute that?” Tamou asked.
“You can’t challenge the bunker,” Butler said.
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“Challenge offside, I have a backup challenge,” Tamou said.
“They sorted that out, mate,” Butler replied.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley admitted Monday the umpires misread the escort penalty. However, the NRL chief confirmed the league believes the captain’s challenge was legal.
“You’re not going to find a specific rule in black and white anywhere that talks about being able to make a tackle after time runs out on the final tackle of the game,” Annesley said.
“Nothing in the rule specifically relates to what happened. [Clubs] All have received a copy of the interpretation document which is updated and sent to clubs at the beginning of each year.
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“I read straight from it that it says: ‘The captain can challenge the referee’s decisions from the point of interruption, play the ball back to the previous game or resume play.’ This item is in black and white and everyone has a copy of it.β
In a speech on NRL360 Monday night, Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis revealed the club’s path to legal action was related to the timing of the sentence.
“There’s an old adage that what happens on the field stays on the field, but that goes for decisions of office as well,” Hagipantelis said.
βIn general, they cannot be challenged.
“But our preliminary view is and what we are concerned about is that those decisions which have led us to such a complaint may have been made after the game was completed and therefore any decision by the referee would then be null and could be the subject a successful legal challenge.β