Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski ‘very upset’ after costly Wests Tigers blunder

The referee who potentially denied the Tigers a game-changing try during Friday’s loss to the Warriors is “very upset” about his blunder.

Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski is "very upset" about the blunder.

The referee who potentially denied the Wests Tigers a game-changing try during Friday’s four-point loss to the Warriors is “very upset” about his costly error, NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley has confirmed.

In the 18th’s minute of the Round 3 clash in Sydney, Tigers halfback Luke Brooks dribbled a pinpoint kick in-goal with teammate Luciano Leilua getting to the ball first.

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But referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski opted not to send the decision upstairs and ordered the Warriors to restart on their 20-metre line, adjudicating that it had been put down over the dead-ball line.

However, replays suggested Leilua may have scored the try, with Fox League commentators left baffled by the referee’s call.

“I reckon it was a try,” Tigers great Steve Roach told Fox Sports’ NRL Tonight.

“I can’t believe it didn’t go up.”

It’s difficult to say with certainty whether the Bunker would have awarded the try, but it undeniably should have been referred.

The Tigers ultimately suffered a 16-12 defeat at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, their third consecutive loss of the season.

“Yeah, I just don’t understand that. I really don’t understand,” Tigers coach Michael Maguire told reporters after the loss.

“When you’ve got that much technology in our game that you can’t go back and see it. It’s ridiculous really

“They’re big moments for teams that are going through a period like we are. The game changes as we know and yeah, we had an opportunity at the back end. But it changes the mentality within a game.

“And that’s why we have technology to be able to work through those things.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield tweeted: “Seriously that had to be checked. That’s terrible.”

Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Annesley confirmed that Przeklasa-Adamski has acknowledged he should have sent the decision to the Bunker.

“It’s a very tight decision, whichever way it goes. The referee thought it was no try,” Annesley said.

“The biggest mistake he made was making that decision without getting further advice.

“The referee was wrong in not referring it. He knows that, he knew it literally immediately afterwards once replays had been shown on the screen, and crowd and players became aware of it.

“He knew that he should have referred it to the Bunker, and so he is obviously very upset that he misjudged that incident in terms of how he dealt with it on the field.”

The Tigers, who are still searching for their first victory of the season, will next face the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday, with kick-off scheduled for 8.05pm AEDT.

Originally published as Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski ‘very upset’ after costly Wests Tigers blunder