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The NRL is set to review comments made by the chief executive of the Warriors’ major sponsor, in which he accused referees of “cheating of the highest order”.
Jason Paris, CEO of One NZ, made the extraordinary claim in the wake of the team’s 18-6 loss to the Panthers at Magic Round, which saw two Warriors end up in the sin bin.
The first, Jackson Ford, was binned for a hip-drop tackle on Panthers forward Spencer Leniu while Demitric Sifakula was also punished for a striking action towards Nathan Cleary.
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The decision to send Sifakula to the bin was particularly contentious, with the Warriors interchange forward not charged for the incident by the match review committee on Sunday.
Reflecting on the defeat on Saturday, Paris claimed on Twitter that the NRL’s bunker and referees are “biased” against the Warriors.
Paris wrote: “Are you kidding me? How biased are the @NRL bunker and referees against the @NZWarriors? Have they got money on them to lose? It’s like we are permanently against 14 on the field and they want us to play with 12.”
Paris went on to describe it as “absolutely outrageous” and “so incredibly frustrating” when replying to a fan who shared similar views in the replies.
“Imagine how the team feel – three games in 11 days and then this rubbish. Cheating of the highest order,” Paris added.
In a more comprehensive reply to one fan, Paris then questioned why Roosters forward Sitili Tupouniua was able to remain on the field and score a try after a tackle on Marcelo Montoya last week.
There were some suggestions that Tupouniua should have been sent to the bin for the shot, although the second rower was not cited by the NRL’s match review committee on Monday.
“It’s tough to watch,” wrote Paris.
“For the last two weeks we have had players receiving clear & direct shots to the head, it was reviewed and cleared by the bunker. Last week against the roosters that same player then scored a try against us soon after (admittedly it was a great try) and then yesterday same thing at a crucial time and it would been a momentum swing for us, but instead we lose two players for ten minutes for very marginal calls. It’s the inconsistency that drives me crazy.”
Paris also shared a quote from Sky Sports NZ commentators, who claimed the Panthers were “spoon fed the game by the referees”.
An NRL spokesman confirmed to The Daily Telegraphthat the league is “aware” of the comments and would “review them closely”.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster had kept tight-lipped in recent weeks when asked about contentious refereeing calls against the team but had a different approach on Saturday.
“I’m going to take a hat around and get you guys to pay for my fine,” Webster said.
“If you all want to chip in, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Webster commented on the Sifakula sin bin while also touching on the high tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak which forced the winger to go off for a head injury assessment.
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“The Demitric one, I feel like his hand is open, like he’s pushing him in the face,” Webster said.
“You see Nathan’s face move, but it’s like going to push him and then the next thing he’s in the bin.
“Dallin has got a swollen face and a sore nose. No one has done that on purpose, yet he goes to the HIA and nothing happens. Things like that, I’m not understanding at the moment.”
Tohu Harris, meanwhile, was on the receiving end of a high tackle from Moses Leota in the second half which prompted Fox League commentator Warren Smith to declare the Panthers prop “might have a problem here”.
“I was getting checked, I didn’t even see the replay but the ref said it had been cleared and play on,” he said.
“My teammates weren’t too happy about it but honestly I didn’t get to see the replay or what it looked like.”
