Penrith Panthers trainer Shane Elford sprung deliberately wetting ball before golden point vs Cowboys
Vision has emerged of Penrith trainer Shane Elford deliberately wetting the ball in an attempt to give his side an unfair advantage in golden point against the Cowboys. WATCH THE VIDEO
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Penrith trainer Shane Elford has been sprung attempting to gain an unfair advantage by deliberately wetting the ball during Saturday’s 30-all draw with North Queensland.
The NRL is aware of Elford’s actions.
Vision emerged of Elford squirting the ball twice with a water bottle as his side prepared to kick off to the Cowboys to start golden point in Townsville.
When shown the vision, Cowboys coach Todd Payten made the remarkable admission that Elford committed the act throughout the match.
“He did it before every kickoff,” Payten said. “We noticed it in the (coaching) box.
“I will let the NRL handle it. I don’t know what they’re going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely.
“I don’t want to say anymore.”
The vision clearly showed Elford shooting water onto the ball to make it heavier and more slippery when his side was kicking off to the Cowboys.
With the water bottle in his left hand and ball in his right, blue-shirt trainer Elford appears to try and hide his actions.
The ball is dripping wet Elford hands the ball to fullback Dylan Edwards for the kick off.
Some Panthers players could see what Elford was doing.
Elford was, at one point, talking to Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny when wetting the ball.
Penrith is aware of Elford’s behaviour but preferred not to comment.
One rival club CEO watched the vision and said: “What makes him think he could get away with this given the huge amount of cameras that are covering every game.
“It’s just crazy.”
One online comment read: “Nothing to see here. Just the Penrith Panthers trainer wetting the ball in golden point to try and gain an unfair advantage.
“Is this common practice?”
Elford has been involved in previous on-field incidents which have been reviewed by the NRL.
Elford, 47, played 148 NRL games for Penrith and Wests Tigers between 1998 and 2010.
This masthead has reached out to Penrith for comment.
Originally published as Penrith Panthers trainer Shane Elford sprung deliberately wetting ball before golden point vs Cowboys
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