A topsy-turvy match between the North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers ended in controversy on Sunday afternoon, with the Cowboys winning 27-26.
The Tigers seemingly completed a miraculous comeback in the dying stages of the match, but a contentious call following a short kick-off turned the game on its head.
Daine Laurie caught the ball as the siren sounded, but an off-ball collision saw the referee blow his whistle, with Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend making a captain's challenge.
However, there didn't appear to be a stoppage in play where a call could be challenged.
After a video review, Asu Kepaoa was deemed to have impeded the run of Kyle Feldt, leaving Valentine Holmes to slot home a penalty kick to win the game.
Wests Tigers assistant coach Ben Gardiner was measured in his press conference but made his thoughts on the incident clear.
"As I said to the boys, that was a moment of elation, then a moment of deflation," Gardiner said.
"It was a really interesting time in the game - obviously being so close - where one decision at the end of the game would decide the game.
"I wasn't quite sure why the decision was made.
"My understanding is that when the bunker comes into play - or when there's a challenge made - it has to be when there's an indiscretion in the play, or there's a breakdown of the play.
"My understanding is we caught the ball and the game was over. And that's where it should have ended.
"But, you know, at the end of the day, that's the decision that was made."
To add insult to injury, the last-minute loss came in James Tamou's 300th match in the NRL.
Despite the disappointment of falling short in his milestone game, the club captain was proud of his teammates' efforts.
"The boys had their heads down [after the match] and I said 'lift your heads high, boys. I couldn't have asked for any more from you,"' Tamou said.
"They really stood up and ... tested one of the top sides in the game.
"Unfortunately, tonight wasn't meant to be. But I can definitely sense we're going in the right direction."
Match Highlights - #NRLCowboysTigers 🎥
— NRL (@NRL) July 24, 2022
An incredible display from a valiant Tigers side in North Queensland 🐯 pic.twitter.com/TxW8hEfbpC
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was also asked about the finish to the match but didn't openly discuss his view on the call.
However, captain Chad Townsend did share his perspective on the incident.
"There was a stoppage in play and I just saw the escort and went over to the ref straight away," Townsend said.
"I saw the challenge and I think the [touch judge] looked over and gave the ref a nod ... he saw the same thing that I saw.
"So [the referee] asked me what I was challenging - I said 'the escort'.
"I felt [that Feldt] was on the ground [because Kepaoa] changed his line.
"You know, over the course of the season, sometimes you get [calls to go your way] and sometimes you don't. And tonight we got one."
