Wests Tigers lose 9-7 to Brisbane in controversial circumstances in golden point extra time
WESTS Tigers were brave once again, and nearly claimed another heavyweight scalp, but their controversial 9-7 golden-point loss to the Broncos was marred by a refereeing controversy.
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A STUNNED Ivan Cleary said the controversial penalty that cruelly ended the Wests Tigers fairytale start to the season should never have been awarded.
Matt Lodge was the most booed man at Campbelltown Stadium until whistleblower Ashley Klein pinged Robbie Rochow for not being square at marker in the 86th minute of golden-point extra-time.
Players from both teams struggled to work out why the penalty was given.
Broncos skipper Darius Boyd said he was unsure if it was for “off-side or the markers leaving early’’.
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Klein was overheard saying it was an area of the game they had cracked down on in the opening fortnight. The referees have not stopped blowing their whistle the opening few rounds.
Rookie winger Jamayne Isaako held his nerve to kick the winning penalty and give B4risbane a 9-7 win.
Cleary was unimpressed with the call and said after the match: “It’s hard (losing like that), very hard.
“You have to feel for the boys. I feel for the crowd, I feel for everyone.
“It’s one thing to give penalties in golden point. Historically you just don’t. The other one was, ‘was it a penalty?’.
“I actually don’t think it was.
“We all make mistakes, but that’s big one.
“You could tell by the way the Broncos guys reacted. It was like they were almost embarrassed.
“It throws the golden point into a whole new light because I don’t see why ... is that a spectacle (when) a game finishes like that tonight?
“A draw is a fair result I would have thought, but unfortunately not tonight’’
The Tigers came into this with belief after they stunned the Sydney Roosters and then premiers Melbourne. It may have explained the pumped-up 11,434 crowd in Sydney’s deep south west.
Even though they lost, they’ll take heart Brisbane failed to score a try against them.
They have only conceded two tries in the opening three games - but the Tigers have also scored just twice.
Warriors winger David Fusitu’a has racked up four tries in just two games.
Cleary said their confidence would not be dented moving forward, starting with the Easter Monday clash against Mitch Moses and the Parramatta Eels.
The opening half was dreadful for the Tigers and Broncos as they went to the break 2-all.
A penalty goal put the Broncos in front, and they looked set to stretch their lead when Jack Bird, playing his first game for the club, thought he had just got his fingertips to a Boyd grubber, only to be denied.
A couple of minutes later, the Tigers scored at the other end when Michael Chee Kam had a Luke Brooks grubber sit up on his chest and scored.
The Tigers showed tremendous grit to hold out the Broncos, with David Nofoaluma pulling off a brilliant try-saver against Tom Opacic.
Cleary was entitled to look at replays of Malakai Watene-Zelezniak’s tackle on Isaako, who appeared to put a foot into touch, only for play to go on and the Broncos awarded a penalty to level the scores.
Isaako slotted a field goal in the final 90 seconds before Brooks immediately responded from right in front for the game to be sent into extra-time.
BRISBANE 9 (J Isaako 4 goals J Isaako field goal) bt WESTS TIGERS 7 (M Chee Kam try E Marsters goal L Brooks field goal) in extra time at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Matt Noyen. Crowd: 11,434