Benji Marshall laments referee calls he believes cost the Wests Tigers the game against the Panthers

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has taken aim at match officials following his side’s loss to the Panthers, pointing to two contentious penalties that had an impact on the result.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has taken aim at match officials following his side’s 18-14 loss to the Panthers, pointing to two contentious penalties robbed his side of victory on Sunday afternoon.

With the scores locked at 10-all at half time, referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski blew two consecutive penalties against Tigers half Jarome Luai, both of which culminated in points to the Panthers.

The first indiscretion, a supposed late hit on Blaize Talagi, enabled Nathan Cleary to kick the Panthers 12-10 ahead at the 55th minute mark. The second, an alleged escort on Liam Martin five minutes later, ultimately resulted in Thomas Jenkins’ matchwinning try.

After the match, Marshall insisted that both these decisions had been wrong and his side had deserved to win the game, which had ended at three tries apiece.

Benji Marshall was unimpressed with some of the refereeing. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I honestly thought we were the better side,” Marshall said.

“And I actually feel sorry for our players because they didn’t decide tonight.

“I thought two calls, the first one on Jarome (against Talagi), on last, making a tackle. I thought that was outrageous.

“And the second one, when he got done for an escort, I thought was bad too … and they scored off the back of that set.

“Just let them (the players) decide it.”

Marshall was especially critical of the first call, insisting that Luai posed no danger to Talagi as he attempted to pressure the kick.

“I agree with protecting the kicker, but he didn’t take his legs out and he didn’t put him in a dangerous position,” he continued.

“It was simultaneous when he kicked it and he made contact there [pointing to his chest].

“That’s not a penalty … I thought it was the wrong call, and I thought it actually cost us because we were in a cycle there where they got field position, kicked the goal, got the ball back, went down, got a penalty and scored.”

The 14th-placed Tigers have a bye next weekend before facing the table-topping Raiders in round 16.

PANTHERS PIP TIGERS AT THE POST

Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai. Picture: NRL Photos

Jarome Luai may have the cash, but it was Nathan Cleary who got the chocolates on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers trounced the Tigers 18-14 at CommBank Stadium.

It was a mixed afternoon for Luai, who faced his former team for the first time since joining the Tigers on a five-year contract reportedly worth $6 million. The St Mary’s junior was strong early, directing traffic in attack and playing a role in his side’s two opening tries. However, it was a different story in the second half, with the former NSW star conceding two vital penalties that enabled the Panthers to pull away during the final 25 minutes of play.

With the scores locked at 10-all at the break, Luai gifted Cleary with a simple penalty goal when he was pinged for a late shot on five-eighth Blaize Talagi in the 55th minute. He would prove the villain again six minutes later when his escort penalty on Liam Martin enabled hat-trick hero Thomas Jenkins to open up an 18-10 advantage to the Panthers.

To their credit, the Tigers pushed hard during the final quarter, and while Jaral Skelton’s touchdown made it three tries apiece in the final 10 minutes, it was ultimately Cleary’s superior goalkicking that helped Penrith to their fifth win of the season.

Thomas Jenkins scores. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

JENKINS OUTSHINES STARS

While Cleary was solid in the Wild West shootout against his former partner in crime, it was unfashionable winger Thomas Jenkins who stole the show for the Mountain Men with an unlikely hat-trick. The Young Cherrypickers product opened the scoring when he crossed off a perfectly executed scrum play in the 10th minute. Back-to-back tries to Sunia Turuva and Starford To’a had the Tigers ahead 10-6 at the half-hour mark, but Jenkins’ second, right on the halftime buzzer, put the Panthers back on level terms.

Not bad for a bloke who was expecting to play Ron Massey Cup this year after being cut by the Knights.

PANTHERS’ POOR DISCIPLINE

Despite the result, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary would have been livid with his side’s discipline against the Tigers. The four-time defending champs conceded seven penalties throughout the game, the majority on the final tackle as the Tigers were working the ball away from their line.

WHERE TO NEXT FOR TIGERS

Despite a promising start to the season, Marshall’s new-look Tigers have now lost four straight and are officially in a slump. This result sees them drop below the Panthers into 14th position. Once again, missed tackles (35) and errors (11) proved their downfall.

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Originally published as Benji Marshall laments referee calls he believes cost the Wests Tigers the game against the Panthers