Fans have savaged referee Ben Cummins over his performance in the first half of Penrith's 36-4 victory over the Warriors on Friday night.
A lop-sided penalty count in the early stages helped the Panthers to a comfortable 12-point half-time lead, and helped them set up a handy win minus their Origin stars.
The first contentious call came in the opening minutes of the match, when Warriors winger Ken Maumalo was denied the opportunity to score a try after a Shaun Johnson pass was called forward.
While the ball was thrown from Johnson on the 30-metre line, and Maumalo caught it over the 30-metre line, both Peter Sterling and Andrew Johns believed the ball came out of the hands backwards, and it should have been play on.
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"No, that's fine. That's a good ball," Sterling said on Channel Nine.
Johns echoed Sterling's comment.
"Well, they're watching the line," Johns added.
"They're not watching the hands of Shaun Johnson.
"Shaun Johnson passes the ball and out of his hands, it goes backwards."
Watch the forward pass call below:
Was this forward? 🤔 #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 6, 2018
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But if that decision could be forgiven, the same couldn't be said for Jack Hetherington's pass to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak close to half-time.
Sterling and Johns agreed the pass was clearly forward, with Johns heard laughing at the decision in commentary.
"They'll be filthy the Warriors, they got pulled up twice for forward passes in this game and that was quarterback stuff," Sterling said.
Watch the missed forward pass below:
Look away Warriors fans... 😬 #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 6, 2018
Follow LIVE: https://t.co/jHqBhizPur
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That missed forward pass nearly cost the Warriors a crucial two points. The Panthers led 12-0 at that stage, and missed an easy penalty attempt to go up 14-0 at the break shortly after that passage of play.
Penrith had the benefit of a 7-2 penalty count in the first half. It was evened up somewhat in the second half, with the Panthers winning the count 10-7 by full-time, but fans felt as though the damage was done in the first half.
Ben Cummins should not be allowed to referee the second half. As costly a half of egregious errors as we’ve ever seen. Game as good as taken out of Warriors hands. Heartbreaking #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Topher Sutton (@tophersutton) July 6, 2018
#NRLPanthersWarriors @FOXNRL commentators at a loss with a high tackle being called high. Cummins needs to even up the numbers. Watch them blown when they don’t count.
— The Woodchoppa (@fluffyredduck) July 6, 2018
Cummins is crucifying the Warriors. Watch for 2nd half square up after someone tips him at HT.#NRLPanthersWarriors
— Full Support of the Board (@TheEducatedEel) July 6, 2018
The forward pass rulings were only the tip of the iceberg for fans, who laid into Cummins' officiating.
Forward passes are just a joke atm. Two line balls from Warriors called forward. Shocking forward from Penrith not even looked at it. Systematic bias. Refs having a shocker AGAIN #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Luke Easton (@3ku1) July 6, 2018
He has deadset handed the ball to him forward there in that play - Luckily it hasn’t led to a try. No possession or luck for @NZWarriors this first half #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Mitch Jarvis (@Mitch_jarvis31) July 6, 2018
Cummins just had a guess on that last penalty, because he can’t keep up with the speed of the game. Replays show the Warriors did enough to be on-side. Add the forward pass as well. #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Freddie Faraj (@MrWild01) July 6, 2018
Ben Cummins is having a blinder tonight 😂😂 https://t.co/Tri0meELWE
— T24™ (@TFitzgerald24) July 6, 2018
Ben Cummins should be doing Sydney Shield next week #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Curtis Woodward (@woodward_curtis) July 6, 2018
Ben Cummings must be getting a years supply of Oak from the panthers with all theses penalties #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Phillip Raso (@Phileel) July 6, 2018
Goddamn AWFUL reffing once again #NRLPanthersWarriors
— rosa jane 🌺 (@wittykordei) July 6, 2018
I love how the refs just gave my boys a heads up the warriors were going for a short drop out there. This is great #NRLPanthersWarriors
— GillPhould (@GPhould) July 6, 2018
#NRLPanthersWarriors now if that's not favouritism. Refs telling panthers that the warriors are going for a short drop out. WTF
— Garè (@Gaz_70) July 6, 2018
Can you ask Cummins to take his Panthers jersey off in the 2nd half.
— Scott Pull (@scottpull) July 6, 2018
@AndrewVossy mate, Cummins is having an absolute shocker.
— Dylan 〽⚽⚽RE✌🌐 (@dillboynz) July 6, 2018
See the way Cummins just threw that ball over the sideline for the warriors and awarded possession to the Panthers there? What a bastard. #NRLPanthersWarriors
— Boris Barclay (@BorsBarclay) July 6, 2018
Is it too much for Cummins to know the rules for our games?#NRLPanthersWarriors
— Dean Taylor (@DNoze) July 6, 2018
Another shocking call Cummins! No shoulder charge? Wtf!@nrl#LetsGoneWarriors#NRLPanthersWarriors
— Jo Faulkner™⁉♡ (@IamnowMrsF) July 6, 2018
