LIVE GAME Round 14 v Panthers

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‘The players didn’t get to decide tonight’: Benji fumes at two ‘outrageous’ ref calls​

Mark St John from Fox Sports

June 8th, 2025 7:25 pm

Tigers coach Benji Marshall was fuming at two referee calls that went against Jarome Luai that he believes prevented the players from deciding the result of their 18-14 loss to the Panthers.

Luai was pinged for a late tackle on Blaize Talagi when the scores were 10-10, which gave the Panthers a 12-10 lead and then Penrith scored off an escort penalty that went against the Tigers skipper.

Marshall was pleased with his side’s effort but lamented the referees not letting the players decide an enthralling contest.


“I thought it was one of our best performances of the year,” Marshall said.

“We’re playing against quality opposition that play at a really good level.

“They test you with their attack. Probably got the best kicking game in the competition. And we went toe to toe with them. And I honestly thought we were the better side tonight.

“The game is so hard and demanding. And I actually feel sorry for our players because they didn’t actually get to decide tonight.


“I thought two calls, the first one on Jarome, on last, making a tackle. I thought it was outrageous. That decision took them to 12-10.

“And the second one, he got done for an escort, which I thought was bad too. And then they scored off the back of that set. Just let them decide. Let them play.

“The game is actually hard enough. So I’m proud of our boys and proud of the effort. And we’ll keep fighting and turning up like that the way we did tonight and keep improving.”

Marshall was pressed on whether the game has gone too far in protecting kickers.

“It was a wrong call,” Marshall said.

“I agree with protecting the kickers, but he didn’t take his legs out. They didn’t put him in a dangerous position. It was simultaneous when he kicked it and he made contact there. Like, that’s not a penalty.


“I’m all for protecting kickers. Don’t get me wrong. OK, I just I thought it was the wrong call. And I thought it actually cost us because we’re in a cycle there where they got field position, kicked the goal, got the ball back, went down, got a penalty and then scored, so anyway, I’ve had my rant.”

Marshall was blunt when pressed if he would take up his concerns with the NRL.

“Absolutely,” Marshall said.


Luai played a straight bat when asked about the contentious penalties that went against him.

“I think you can sort of see from my reaction what my thoughts were,” Luai said.


“I think the ref gave me the explanation of it was a bit careless. So, I understand the rules and in that moment, you know, I understood what I was doing. He’s just in the rules.”

“He’s saying he doesn’t want to make any comments,” Marshall interjected.

Jahream Bula nearly pulled off two late match winners, but Marshall paid tribute to the Panthers scrambling defence.

“It took some special plays from some of their players,” Marshall said.

“Birdie caught a bomb and gave it to Jahream and I think Sorenson came from the other side of the field to shut that down, which speaks volumes of the type of player he is and the effort they have too.

“And then again at the back end, Jahream went up for a bomb again and we had some opportunities.


“But I’ve said it every week, our group doesn’t stop fighting. And as a coach, that’s all you want to ask for.



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'For the speech' Best of Luai v Panthers | 00:57

“I asked for a few things tonight and they gave everything we asked for and we just couldn’t manage to get the result in the end.”

Despite four losses in a row, Marshall is confident his side is heading in the right direction.

“Yeah, every loss hurts,” Marshall said.

“We’re competitors. We want to win everything. We want to win every game. So as a club, we’re building our process. Obviously, we’ve made a few changes in our halves and changed the way we’re playing a little bit in our style.

“And again, those things don’t happen overnight. We know it’s going to be a process, although we know we should have probably won a few more games to now, too.

“But at the end of the day, we’ve just got to keep improving and I’m seeing that improvement. I’m seeing that drive. I’m seeing the players keep believing and trusting in what we’re doing. And you keep doing that and you keep working hard. It’ll turn.”

Luai was pressed on how he felt coming up against his former teammates, who he won four titles with.

“There were no real different emotions for me to be honest with you, I sort of understood it early throughout the week that I was coming up against some old friends,” Luai said.

“But at the end of the day, I’ve got brothers here now, and this Tigers jersey and my pure focus is just to do my job for these guys.


“It was just a great feeling to compete against the best.

“They’re the premiers, so it was a good test for us as a team to see where we’re at.

“And like Benji said we went toe-to-toe with these guys, so we’re going to take a lot of confidence out of this game.”

Luai had a running battle with Nathan Cleary and is looking forward to their next meeting.

“It was a great challenge,” Luai said.

“I’ve been in the back seat seeing other guys come up against him and they relished that challenge and I was the same tonight.


“I want to play the best. I’m a competitor first and foremost and I can’t wait to play him again.”

Luai was disappointed with a few areas of his game, but paid tribute to Marshall for helping him develop his craft as a halfback.

“I feel I was locked in, you know, throughout the 80 a few touches I’d like to have back and execute a bit better,” Luai said.

“But that’s what I’m loving about most is that challenge and the learning and the growth and at the end of the day it’s not about the destination, it’s who you become along the journey.

“I feel like I’m getting better. This guy’s (Marshall) helping me so much and we’re working hard every day of training. So I promise to this guy and to my team that I’m going to be better.”

Latu Fainu was also impressive in his return from injury and could come into the halves for Heath Mason after the bye.

“I thought he was outstanding, mate,” Marshall said of Fainu.

“I thought given he plays in the halves, to play in probably the toughest position on the field in the middle and hold his own.

“And I thought he changed the game with his energy when he came on. He probably freed up Jarome a little bit to play a bit more too.

“Took some of that ball playing pressure in the middle and defended really well.

“But he’s a work in progress. We love what he does, and we’ll just keep building on what he’s done.”

www.foxsports.com.au

‘The players didn’t get to decide tonight’: Benji fumes at two ‘outrageous’ ref calls

‘The players didn’t get to decide tonight’: Benji fumes at two ‘outrageous’ ref calls
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
 
We need to find a better goal kicker than Douhei. If Douhei had converted all three attempts tonight, we go to golden point. Is it just me or does his kicking seem to be getting worse as the season goes on? I do admit both he missed weren’t easy kicks, but he seems to be missing a lot more.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
So you don’t watch other teams play? Don’t see how ordinary a side like the Titans are? Besides the Storm game, we give ourselves a chance almost every week. Yet, you talk like the spoon is ours already. Strange take.
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There had been some ordinary teams the last 3 years as well and we still get 3 songs l spoons

Yes we are playing so much better and I hope we don't win it again

But even with thread better performances we still keep losing

Wouldn't be surprised if Titans win both games against us and avoid the spoon by doing so

Not that strange really
 
CWWTF said:
We need to find a better goal kicker than Douhei. If Douhei had converted all three attempts tonight, we go to golden point. Is it just me or does his kicking seem to be getting worse as the season goes on? I do admit both he missed weren’t easy kicks, but he seems to be missing a lot more.
Click to expand...
The rest of the team need to be smarter also

They should always look to improve the angle for their kicker
 
CWWTF said:
We need to find a better goal kicker than Douhei. If Douhei had converted all three attempts tonight, we go to golden point. Is it just me or does his kicking seem to be getting worse as the season goes on? I do admit both he missed weren’t easy kicks, but he seems to be missing a lot more.
Click to expand...
Mate hes been kicking OK this year imo....very difficult out there tonite very very windy
 
Tigerstigerstigers said:
Tough call to make but if Luke Luuali plays tomorrow like he did last week, he has to be in the starting 13 next game. Whether that means he plays Centre or skelts or Surava go to centre I don’t know, but he has to be there
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Which hopefully moves AD onto the bench in place of Jack Bird who hasn’t been offering much
 
mikey said:
Just because my opinion is different yours doesn't mean you can throw the toys out of your cot and have a crack at me.
I merely stated he is doing better than I thought. What did you expect - a happy ending at the end of the fairy tale with a gf win? Grow up ffs.
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It's fine to have your opinion as me mine. I expected to challenge for top 8 not the spoon again!!!
 
GNR4LIFE said:
So nothing needs to change for the Titans. You’d think the world revolves around us, win or lose.
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Of course a lot has to change for the Titans also, but that doesn’t change the fact that if we keep losing, even the close ones, we are a real chance at the spoon once again.

No one likes the idea of us finishing last again and I’d like nothing better than for us to jag at least 3 or 4 more wins before the end of the season and avoid the bloody thing altogether, but the reality is, right now we are looking very vulnerable, regardless of what the Titans or Newcastle do from here.
 
rihannafan1 said:
If we were half decent we beat Souths, Cowboys and Panthers. The games were there to be won.

We are not half decent though.

Bring on another battle for the spoon.

I have to believe with all of our available $$ we have some better players on the way.
Click to expand...
Well, there is the possibility of another Spoon Bowl in Round 27 this year.

This year the combatants will be the Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans.
 
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