Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson has labelled the NRL’s rulings on obstructions a “lottery”, as the Eels fumed over Penrith’s final try in their come-from-behind win.
In a dramatic postscript to the Panthers 36-34 win over Parramatta on Friday night, interim Eels coach Trent Barrett also insinuated he felt his side did now win 50-50 calls due to their ladder position.
Penrith scored three tries in the space of a 206-second period to win the match, going from 34-20 down with seven minutes to play to unlikely victors.
But the Eels were left furious over what they believed was an apparent obstruction in the lead up to Penrith’s last try, with Liam Martin colliding with Deajarn Asi.
Trying to create a break out of their own end, Martin ran through as a decoy runner and knocked down Asi as Daine Laurie sprinted down field and put Izack Tago over.
Gutherson immediately raised the issue with referee Peter Gough, and the play was reviewed by the bunker before the try was confirmed.
Laurie caught the ball beyond the outside shoulder of Martin, but the Eels were adamant the contact still impacted their defensive movements.
“The last try I thought there was an obstruction in there and a pretty bad one too,” Barrett said.
“How that happens with the officiating that we’ve got and how many people are looking at it, I don’t know.
“Daejarn Asi just got knocked over by Liam and it shouldn’t have been a try.”
Barrett then went as far as to suggest his side’s 16th-placed standing on the ladder had potentially played into refereeing decisions.
His comments were similar to those made by the likes of Todd Payten and Justin Holbrook two years ago, who also suggested a team’s standing impacted calls.
The NRL have previously rejected the suggestions.
“There were a few (calls) and sometimes that happens when you’re not supposed to be winning, either,” Barrett said.
“Penrith are the premiers and maybe they were a bit surprised we were in the contest and you don’t get them. We didn’t get a couple (of calls) tonight.””The last one is hard to cop, you just can’t do that. You see it every other week and they get pulled up. That cost us the game.”
Gutherson also fumed post match, after his on-field appeals were turned down by Gough and the bunker.
“If you’re looking at it that long then there has to be something there,” he said.
“I feel like if the lead (runner) is hitting our half and he’s hitting the deck, then we can’t have cover tackles, we don’t have the movement to get there.”It’s a lottery at the moment which is disappointing.”
Asked about the issue after the match, Penrith captain Isaah Yeo played down the issue.
“I’ve been big on it the whole year, sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t,” Yeo said.”We didn’t get all that many tonight either. But the 50-50s, over the course of the season they all marry up. I don’t think there was anything wrong with it.”
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