‘Is that what it’s come to?’: NRL’s lost the plot on kicker contact

The Parramatta Eels have held off a valiant North Queensland side but it wasn’t without a massive call that left fans scratching their heads.

The hit was late but raised plenty of other questions. Photo: Fox Sports

Fans have called kick pressure officially dead after one of the more baffling decisions threatened to turn the Eels’ 24-16 win over the Cowboys on its head.

In the 68th minute, the Eels led 18-6 and seemed to have finally shaken off the Cowboys after winger Sean Russell scored in the corner just minutes earlier.

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The Cowboys, fresh off a 48-point loss to the Tigers last week, showed some much needed gumption in defence but had struggled to threaten the scoreboard after Scott Drinkwater’s seventh minute try.

With what was quickly becoming close to their final throw of the dice, the Cowboys were close to the Eels line when Chad Townsend kicked to the left, only for Russell to defuse the kick.

However, referee Liam Kennedy called a penalty, sparking confusion in the commentary box as the Fox League callers believed it was an escort from Eels centre Will Penisini.

Instead of copping what appeared a fairly clear cut penalty, the Eels called a captain’s challenge for the call.

But bunker official Ashley Klein, who will be the referee for State of Origin game I on Wednesday night in Adelaide, never looked at the play.

Instead, he looked at Eels debutant Luca Moretti’s late tackle on Townsend after his kick.

While it was definitely late from the debutant, the commentators argued it was far from forceful, even though Townsend ended up on the ground.

It was late but almost could hardly be deemed a hit. Photo: Fox Sports

It could be argued that most times that kickers are held down it’s late and would have more forceful contact against them.

“Not much force in that is there?” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.

After the penalty was awarded, Michael Ennis added: “Strewth, is that what it’s come to?”

There was plenty of confusion as well as Klein said he “supports the on field decision” and claimed the “contact was late”, but said “Parramatta retain the right to challenge”.

It confused the commentators as Ginnane thought it meant that was what the penalty was for, but the captain’s challenge was deemed “inconclusive”, despite clear angles on both potential penalties.

And if you’re confused, social media was equally baffled by the bizarre review.

Western Weekender and Parra News managing editor Troy Dodds posted: “How do the Eels keep their challenge there? Regardless of the call, how was it inconclusive when there was unimpacted vision?”

An Eels fan added: “How’s that a penalty?”

Another fan wrote: “What sort of game have we become where halfbacks are more protected than quarterbacks in the NFL? This is so dumb.”

Another said: “What sort of dogs breakfast was that whole thing. Challenge something and award a penalty for something else and retain challenge.”

Bunker felt so bad about that penalty against Parra that they let them keep their challenge 😂 #NRLEelsCowboys

— Eden Richards (@Eden_Richards) May 26, 2023

The Eels go into the bye on the back of two wins. Picture: NRL Photos

It’s not the first time this season the NRL has been targeted over going too far with the kicker protection.

Earlier in the year, the Cowboys’ Coen Hess was pinged despite a fairly simultaneous hit on Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes.

And there have been plenty of other examples which have raised eyebrows.

But the penalty appeared to change the momentum as the Cowboys quickly scored after a loopy pass from Drinkwater to winger Kyle Feldt brought the visitors back into the game.

The side scored minutes later when Drinkwater pulled off a slick run-around to again put Feldt in to make it 18-16 with five minutes still to play.

But a try to Mitchell Moses sealed back-to-back wins for the Eels for just the second time this season.