NRL head Graham Annesley has conceded it was “the wrong call” for referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski to ignore sending a possible Wests Tigers try to the Bunker.
The refereeing howler prompted Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire to fume post-match that the call was “ridiculous” and a “game changer.’’
The potential four-pointer came in the first half with the Tigers and Warriors locked at 6-all and could have proved the difference in the Tigers 16-12 loss on Friday night.
The potential try came from a Luke Brooks grubber into the in-goal, which Leilua came desperately close to grounding millimetres inside the dead-ball line.
Inexplicably, Przeklasa-Adamski opted against checking the possible try with the video referee.
After speaking with NRL referees boss Jared Maxwell on Saturday morning, Annesley said the call was “wrong”.
“He (Przeklasa-Adamski) thought he saw it clearly and made a judgment call,’’ Annesley said.
“He didn’t think it was as close as what it ultimately turned out to be.
“He thought he was in a good position, had a clear view of it and made the call.
“He was wrong. He should’ve referred the decision, he didn’t refer to it and we’ll never know what decision the bunker would’ve made.
“But that doesn’t in any way detract from the fact that should’ve been referred to.
“By no means am I trying to justify it, but he’s only in his third game as a single referee, but the only way people get experience is to bring them into play – much like a player.
“He’s going to learn a pretty hard lesson out of this, a self-inflicted lesson because he’s doing it quite tough this morning, knowing full-well he’s made the wrong call.
“I know that is no consolation to anyone that is a Tigers official, fan or player, but he realises his error.
“No one goes out there trying to make errors.’’
