Titans hooker Sam Verrills has questioned Panthers coach Ivan Cleary’s claim that a trainer who ran in Jayden Campbell’s line of vision as he was taking a shot at goal had made an “honest mistake”.
In the latter stages of the clash on Saturday, Panthers trainer Corey Bocking ran in front of Titans halfback Campbell, to Campbell’s disgust.
At the time, the Titans led the game 26-24, and if the conversion had been successful, the Titans would have taken a 28-24 lead. But instead, Campbell missed the conversion attempt.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >
It turned out to be crucial in the context of the game, with Nathan Cleary then slotting a two-point field goal to take the game to golden point at 26-all.
The Panthers scored a try in golden point, through Blaize Talagi, and won the game 30-26.
As a result of the incident, the Panthers were fined $50,000 and Bocking copped a five-game ban from the NRL.
Verrills has cast doubts over the Panthers’ version of events.
“I don’t know what sort of trainer just runs in front of a person who’s trying to kick the goal, I’ve never seen that,” Verrills told The Daily Telegraph.
“We were up by two, five minutes to go, I don’t know why a trainer will just run in front of him.
“He’s come out and said he didn’t mean it, but it looked pretty obvious.”
Meantime, bunker official Kasey Badger has been dumped for Round 23, with the NRL admitting the Titans should have been awarded a penalty try in their loss to the Panthers.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘FURIOUS’:NRL set to punish Panthers for trainer as extreme rule change floater
CRAWLS: Rap sheet that should count against Penrith in ‘unforgivable’ new drama
‘F***ING DOGS’: Tigers stars in hot water after NRL complaint over offensive gesture
‘Get up’: Cronk calls out Halasima | 00:42
Titans winger Phil Sami copped a high shot from Panthers opposite Brian To’o in the 47th minute, as he went for a try in the corner.
Sami put his foot on the sideline, which was the reason given by the referee as to why the Titans were only awarded a penalty for the high contact and not a penalty try.
But Titans captain Kieran Foran argued that it should have been a penalty try because To’o’s illegal contact on Sami was the reason his foot landed in touch.
