‘Crazy’: Warriors score eight points in final minute as controversy divides NRL

The Warriors have scored eight points in the final minute to force golden point against the Sea Eagles, but the game-tying call has divided fans.

You just can't touch the kicker. Photo: Fox Sports

The New Zealand Warriors have pulled off the unthinkable to snatch a point in a rare 22-all draw with the Manly Sea Eagles at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.

The result is just the 18th draw in the NRL’s golden point era, dating back to 2003 as the Warriors and Sea Eagles couldn’t be split after 90 minutes of action.

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Just when you thought you’d seen it all in the game, the Sea Eagles appeared headed for a great win across the ditch, having led 22-14 as time ticked away.

However, with just over a minute to go, the Warriors went wide with Shaun Johnson hitting Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scoring in the corner, leaving 47 seconds remaining after the try was converted.

It left the Warriors with one last roll of the dice to force overtime but at the end of the set, Johnson was left with a 45m field goal attempt but it fell well short.

Except for the fact Johnson was hit by Josh Aloiai, who ran across from marker, while Corey Waddell tried to block from in front.

Aloiai contacted the leg of Johnson and it left Steve roach with no doubt what the result would be.

“That’s a penalty,” he said.

Matt Russell said Johnson was “attacked at the leg while kicking for goal”.

Just last week Rabbitohs half Lachlan Ilias was hit by Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick in NSW Cup in very similar circumstances that saw Ilias’ leg broken.

You can't touch the kicker. Photo: Fox Sports

Corey Parker added: “I have no doubt Shaun Johnson is playing his part as well because if it is a penalty, he’s going to have to kick the goal with that leg.”

The Bunker agreed that it was a penalty and the rule states the penalty is awarded from where the ball lands, which was 10m out directly in front.

Johnson made no mistake.

“What a crazy, unbelievable game we’ve seen from these two teams,” Parker said.

He added it was a “game for the ages”.

But the penalty proved controversial as it divided fans online.

One fan said: “Just don’t touch the kicker. You can charge a ball down without taking out the kicker’s legs.”

But another argued: “That is a farcical penalty. Embarrassing for the game.”

Another suggested Lussick had been sent off, adding: “That’s the contact that broke Ilias’ leg, the player in that situation was correctly marched.”

And another commented: “Rules are rules but I don’t like that.”

Johnson then got up and kicked the goal. Photo: Fox Sports

While it was a divisive moment, the NRL has been cracking down on contact to the kicker.

It was jarring to see Johnson on the ground clutching at an ankle one second and then stepping up and kicking the match-tying goal, but it’s an issue the NRL has made for itself with extra attention on obstructions and other such penalty earning acts.

“Surely he can’t take this kick if he is injured?” another fan said.

But the Sea Eagles didn’t want to be drawn into the debate.

“It’s probably something I don’t want to make a comment on because if I say it shouldn’t be a penalty I’m called a whinger and if I say it should’ve been a penalty potentially I’m not looking after the players in my group,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.

“It was adjudicated a penalty and we get on with it.”

Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans added: “A lot of protection for kickers these days, I think the whole league is adjusting to it at the moment.”

But Warriors coach Andrew Webster said it was “definitely the right call”, pointing to Lussick’s four-game ban for his hit on Ilias.

“We certainly know what’s been happening with us as a club with Freddy,” Webster said.

“That’s the situation. It’s unfortunate. I don’t think Josh meant it, he tried to charge the ball down.”

The Warriors almost pulled off the unthinkable. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The Warriors had the best chance at breaking the deadlock during the extra-time with a third tackle knock on from 20m out ruining one chance, while Johnson shanked a field-goal attempt to the right late in the play.

The Sea Eagles did have one chance but Daly Cherry-Evans’ attempt from beyond the 40m line didn’t have the legs.

It will be the game that got away for the Sea Eagles after leading 16-0 after 27 minutes.

But Manly opened the door late in each half, conceding two tries in the final five minutes of the first half, before failing to make the tackle on Johnson, who hit Watene-Zelezniak on the outside for the try that got the Warriors back within two.

Originally published as ‘Crazy’: Warriors score eight points in final minute as controversy divides NRL