New Zealand Warriors sponsor accuses NRL referees of ‘cheating of the highest order’

The NRL is reviewing extraordinary comments made by a major Warriors sponsor which accuses the game’s top referees of cheating. See the posts here.

Referee Todd Smith talks to Tohu Harris and Demitric Sifakula. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

The chief executive of the New Zealand Warriors’ major sponsor has made the extraordinary claim that NRL referees are cheating against the Warriors.

One NZ chief executive Jason Paris has described decisions against his club as “cheating of the highest order” in a social media tirade that has been reported the New Zealand Herald.

Paris delivered his spray on Twitter during the Warriors loss to the Panthers at Magic Round on Saturday.

He 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.

“It’s absolutely outrageous and so incredibly frustrating. Imagine how the team feel - three games in 11 days and then this rubbish. Cheating of the highest order.”

It’s absolutely outrageous and so incredibly frustrating. Imagine how the team feel - three games in 11 days and then this rubbish. Cheating of the highest order.

— Jason Paris (@JasonCParis) May 6, 2023

Are you kidding me? How biased are 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. Huge courage from the boys 💪🔥👊

— Jason Paris (@JasonCParis) May 6, 2023

The Warriors lost 18-6. Afterwards coach Andrew Webster struggled to contain himself at his press conference.

“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.”

A furious NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo described the comments as “unacceptable.”

“We will do everything possible to protect our match officials and the game,” he said.

“Questioning their integrity is completely unacceptable.

“We are currently exploring all our options and will take whatever steps we believe are necessary to defend them”.

New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George refused to apologise for the comments.

“Jason is entitled to say that as a fan of the sport and a big supporter of our club,” George said.

“That’s his call. It’s not a club comment.”

George added the Warriors would be calling for a meeting with the NRL over refereeing issues from recent games.

“We have a significant amount of evidence from games over the last month that we want to raise with the NRL,” he said.

“We’ll take it up with the appropriate people at the NRL.

“Every fan in the sport wants consistency. We want explanations to understand their decision making process.

“We’re not blowing up and throwing our toys out of the cot every time a bad decision is made but we believe there has been a lack of consistency.”