The NRL won’t be reversing the outcome of Wests Tigers’ controversial loss to North Queensland in round 19 but will review the rule that allowed a captain’s challenge after the siren had gone.
And the Tigers also confirmed the club had decided not to pursue a course of legal action after “forcibly” making its position clear to the NRL in recent discussions having also undertaken independent advice.
In the aftermath of the Cowboys kicking a penalty kick to snatch a 27-26 victory courtesy of a captain’s challenge after the final siren, the NRL admitted bunker official Ashley Klein got the wrong call to uphold North Queensland’s challenge after winger Kyle Feldt and the Tigers ‘Asu Kepaoa collided while Feldt was chasing a kick.
Klein incorrectly ruled that Kepaoa had provided an “escort”.
The NRL world was fuming for what most considered the worst decision of the season and the Wests Tigers threatened legal action.
But after an investigation and meetings between league heavyweights and the clubs, the NRL declared on Monday there would be “no further consideration” of the match, ruling out awarding the game to the Tigers.
“Chairman and CEO of the Wests Tigers met with the chairman of the ARLC, NRL CEO and NRL head of football last week,” an NRL statement said.
“The meeting was agreed to discuss various aspects of the rulings made in the final minutes of the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys match on 24 July 2022, being the subject of a formal complaint lodged by Wests Tigers with the NRL.
“The NRL has acknowledged the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers and in response has put forward its interpretation of the rules which enabled the captain’s challenge to be made and the subsequent decision of the bunker match official.
“The NRL has already acknowledged that the bunker official decision of ‘escort’ was incorrect, leading to the erroneous awarding of a penalty in favor of North Queensland Cowboys which ultimately decided the match.
“On the matter of whether the captain’s challenge was permissible in terms of how the rules were drafted, the NRL and the Wests Tigers expressed differing views and interpretation.
The NRL is comfortable with the interpretation that was applied but has acknowledged, in light of the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers, that the rule needs to be reviewed at the end of the season to provide more clarity so as to ensure that there is no future misunderstanding as to the intent and application of the rule.
“Wests Tigers will be consulted as part of the review, together with other interested clubs and stakeholders.
“The NRL acknowledges the professional and respectful manner in which the representatives of the Wests Tigers have pursued their concerns on behalf of their club’s members and fans.
“There will be no further consideration in relation to the match of 24 July 2022.”
Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis had said in the aftermath of the game that the club was exploring its legal options but the club ruled that out on Monday after talks with the NRL
In a statement the club said that decision may be “disappointing to many” but officials were happy they would be consulted on charges to the rules.
“We have made our point to the NRL and made it forcibly,” the statement said.
“We did so on behalf of our members and fans and gave voice to their legitimate concerns that the outcome of the match was not just nor fair. We extracted a concession from the NRL that the obstruction penalty which was given was erroneous and therefore, by implication, Wests Tigers should have won that match.
“We know it, everyone knows it. Unfortunately, the history books will not record it that way.”
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