The CEO of the New Zealand Warriors’ major sponsor has seemingly walked back some of his comments about “cheating of the highest order”, but has reiterated he believes there was “unconscious bias” against the side.
Jason Paris, who is the CEO of One NZ, was fuming after the NRL team’s third straight loss and launched the accusation of bias from the referees and the bunker, citing controversial calls against it in recent weeks.
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While the NRL was said to be investigating Paris’s comments on Sunday, the league appears to be livid.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie reported that Paris could face a possible defamation payout up to $1 million, according to Sydney lawyer Paul McGirr.
It comes as Professional Rugby League Match Officials boss Matt Cecchin confirmed his organisation had spoken to lawyers about the comments from Paris.
“Any sort of mention of the word bias, be it conscious or unconscious, is just unacceptable. It hurts our game at every level,” Cecchin told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We feel strong enough to seek legal opinion and based on the information we’ll pursue whatever means necessary to ensure that it’s seen as a deterrent for anyone who thinks about making any such comments around bias.”
NRL head of football Graham Annesley blasted the tweets as well, saying no comment “could be worse than the type of comment” from Paris.
“I’ll be measured as much as I can be. I’m a bit hot under the collar over this stuff,” Annesley said in his weekly press conference.
“We have to look at the facts. I don’t have a problem with anyone forming their own opinion about whether these are right or wrong … but all it is, is difference in opinion.
“We have to remember what we’re trying to do in this game, and that is we’re trying to make sure that we improve officiating, we’re trying to make sure that the game is as open and as attractive for people to watch as possible, we want the game to be successful. It’s not going to be successful if some of the things that may have been said in the media get any traction and bring the game into disrepute.”
Annesley added that officials worked hard at all levels but would be driven from the game if they constantly had their integrity questioned.
“We can question their decision-making; I have no problem with that. But we can’t question their integrity,” Annesley said.
“Not only does it question the integrity of the people who are out on the field making these decisions; it questions the integrity of the entire NRL administration because we put these people on the field.”
The clip came after Paris cleared up his comments earlier on Monday.
“A bit of interest in my support for the mighty @NZWarriors,” he tweeted. “Just to clear things up – I do not think the @NRL referees are cheating. They come to work everyday to do their best job for the game. My comments were made in the heat of the moment as a passionate fan.
“However, I do believe that there is unconscious bias happening every week against the Warriors & it needs to be addressed. All we want is consistency, but we are not getting it.
“Take opinions out of it & analyse the video footage from past games & compare our decisions vs other teams. I think it will find that we are being disadvantaged – then we can work out why & take steps to fix it.
“We will always back our team.”
Paris also spoke on SEN NZ Afternoons, repeating that the original “cheating” claim came from a “passionate fan”.
But he doubled down on calling out what he called “consistent inconsistency against the Warriors”.
“I love how they’re testing and trialling the rules all the time, it’s great, but we have to find a way of removing bunker decisions in particular out of the conversation just by being consistent,” he said.
“I get on the field that in the moment it’s a fast-paced game and refs can kind of make decisions on the fly that will go 50/50 but when you’ve got high definition video footage that you’re watching in slow-mo, and the NRL has been clear on what the ruling is – for example when a shoulder in a tackle hits a face or a head – then all you can expect is consistency.
“I don’t think that the Warriors are getting that.”
But while the NRL was fuming, Paris had some support from 241-game NRL great Kevin Campion.
The former Queensland representative who played two seasons in New Zealand in 2001 and 2002 said he noticed a difference when he pulled on the Warriors jersey.
“We always just got the short end of the stick,” Campion told SENZ Afternoons.
“I remember one game in particular, I think Timmy Mander was reffing the game and some of the calls were just blatantly against us.
“I said to him, ‘We are the better team here Tim. We’re working our butts off basically,’ and we were still in the league and, ‘You’re not giving us a fair go, please, I’m begging you, give us a fair go.’
“Look, it’s not something that’s just popped up, it’s been us against them for a lot of years.”
He added: “They don’t want that trophy to leave Australia. They don’t want it to travel over the Tasman, it’s the only reason I can see for it.”
The comments come after a series of controversial calls in recent weeks.
At Magic Round, Warriors coach Andrew Webster, who has been good at holding his tongue, almost stepped over the line after two second half sin bins and an untimely HIA.
“I’m going to take a hat around and get you guys to pay for my fine,” he said. “If you all want to chip in, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was essentially ruled out of the final 15 minutes of the match for an eye poke, while Demitric Sifakula was sin binned for a “striking action” on Nathan Cleary in the 65th minute.
The commentators called it a “jumper punch”, while Webster claimed his hand was open when the issue happened.
It’s far from the first time either as in the 30-22 loss on Anzac Day, the fans were blowing up over what appeared to be a knock on that gave the Storm their first lead of the match.
In the 14-0 loss to the Roosters, Sitili Tupouniua scored minutes after what appeared to be a shoulder charge.
