Watch: Cowboys trainer caught wetting the ball in explosive twist to Panthers controversy

Vision of a Cowboys trainer allegedly wetting the ball was picked up by the ground cameras and the on-field referee in a damning postscript to the Panthers furore. WATCH THE FOOTAGE

A North Queensland trainer was reprimanded by irritated referee Todd Smith for trying to gain an unfair advantage by squirting water over a football - just a day after Penrith was accused of committing the same unsavoury act.

The drama unfolded during Saturday night’s 30-all golden point game between the Cowboys and Panthers in Townsville.

During extra-time, and with his side was about to kick-off to North Queensland, Penrith’s blue-shirt trainer Shane Elford was twice sprung shooting water over the football to make it heavier and slipperier.

In retaliation to Elford’s behaviour, North Queensland’s blue-shirt trainer Mitchell Dunn also wet the football before being caught red-handed by Smith.

As golden point was about to start, and with North Queensland about to kick-off, Smith can be seen and heard yelling at Dunn who had just sprayed the ball with his water bottle.

WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Cowboys trainer captured wetting the ball.

Smith said: “Hang on, hang on, no, no, no, no, no, nup, nup, give me the ball. You’re not doing that. No way, get another footy, another football.”

“He squirted it with water.”

Smith then takes the ball and kicks it to the sideline as Dunn walks behind play and drinks the same water.

Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford was waiting on halfway for the new ball to come onto the field so he could kick-off.

“I need a ball,” Smith reiterated. “He squirted the ball with water. C’mon.”

Ironically, it was Elford who kicked a new ball onto the field to resume play.

The NRL is aware of North Queensland’s behaviour but the club isn’t commenting.

It is likely the NRL will fire out an edict this week reminding trainers that they cannot tamper with the football.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he could see Elford committing the act from the coaching box.

Water can been seen dripping from the ball as Shane Elford prepares to hand it to Dylan Edwards for the kick off.

On Sunday, when asked about Elford’s actions, Payten said: “He did it before every kick-off. We noticed it in the (coaching) box.

“I will let the NRL handle it. I don’t know what they’re going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely. I don’t want to say anymore.”

Elford handed a dripping wet ball to fullback Dylan Edwards.

Several Panthers players could see what Elford was doing.

Penrith was not commenting on Elford’s behaviour and were waiting to find out how the NRL viewed the indiscretions.

Panthers great and director Greg Alexander said he hadn’t previously seen a ball be squirted with water.

“I haven’t spotted it before. I can’t tell you (if Penrith is the only team doing it) because I haven’t witnessed it happening before,” Alexander told SEN.