Penrith Panthers fans are furious after a controversial moment in Friday night’s clash with the North Queensland Cowboys went unpunished, despite the NRL’s crackdown on high tackles.
The incident occurred late in the second half when Coen Hess delivered a powerful hit on star halfback Nathan Cleary as he attempted to kick inside the red zone.
Replays appeared to show Hess’s shoulder making contact with Cleary’s head, but the Cowboys veteran was not penalised or placed on report.
Fans quickly took to social media to express their outrage over the lack of action from the officials.
‘That was a penalty every day of the week! No wonder us fans find it frustrating and new fans can’t be bothered! Wake up NRL,’ one frustrated supporter wrote.
Others claimed the tackle was clearly targeting Cleary in an attempt to swing the match.
Coen Hess laid this monster hit on Panthers star Nathan Cleary late in the match to earn possession for his side
Panthers fans were left fuming, saying his shoulder collected Cleary on the chin in the tackle
Hess was a man possessed in the dying stages of the match that saw the Cowboys consign the Panthers to their fourth straight loss
‘They all know that knock him out off the game you then stand a chance of winning,’ said one fan.
‘Should have been a penalty and a send off,’ added another.
Other fans defended Hess’s tackle, calling it one of the best of the season.
‘It’s beautiful, I could watch it a million times,’ one said.
‘If that was called high we may as well just play touch rugby! Thankfully it wasn’t,’ another added.
Coen Hess brushed off the controversy post-match.
‘It’s easy when they don’t see you coming,’ Hess said. ‘Nothing special, I was just happy it come off.’
The Panthers, who led 12-6 in the first half, went down 22-18 in a gritty contest at CommBank Stadium.
The NRL is cracking down on high shots and Panthers star Izack Tago was one of the players sent to the sin bin by referee Peter Gough
Cleary played a key role early, setting up tries for Casey McLean and Izack Tago before the Cowboys clawed their way back.
Despite a final set of six in the dying minutes, Penrith couldn’t crack the Cowboys’ defence.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten praised his team’s resilience.
‘I might not seem it, but I’m ecstatic,’ Payten said. ‘Winning makes life look through a different lens, there’s no doubt.’
‘Everyone stuck at it, stuck together, that’s what I’m proud of.’
‘We’ve got some new pieces to the machine, our team, from last year, so that was always going to take a little bit of time.’
But not all decisions went North Queensland’s way.
Hooker Reece Robson was sent to the sin bin in the first half for a high shot on Panthers fullback Daine Laurie.
Cowboys star Reece Robson also spent time in the sin bin for a high tackle in the same match
Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden protested, saying, ‘The player is falling before the contact so the target area naturally lowers.’
In the dying minutes, Penrith centre Izack Tago was also sin-binned for a high tackle on Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi.
‘Izack Tago is being called out and this is going to be on the tackle on Taulagi when it looked like there could have been a penalty to the Cowboys,’ Fox League commentator Warren Smith said.
Referee Peter Gough had little choice, having already binned Robson for a similar offence.
Friday night’s loss sees the Panthers slump to a 1-4 record, their worst season start since 2013.
‘We’re in uncharted waters, to some extent,’ said coach Ivan Cleary.
‘But we’ve worked really hard over a long period of time to develop a winning culture at the Panthers.’
Cleary remains calm despite the injuries and disappointing start.
‘I couldn’t care less about the season slipping away,’ he said. ‘I have complete faith in this group and what we can do, what we can achieve.’
Penrith will look to bounce back next week against the Dolphins, with fullback Dylan Edwards and forward Scott Sorensen expected to return.
