Heart-breaking loss: Matt Utai and Benji Marshall in action against the Bulldogs on Friday night. Pictures: Jon Reid
Throughout this season, many coaches and officials have said they fear poor refereeing will cost a team victory come finals time.
It may have cost a team the chance to get to the finals.
Friday night’s video referee decision to allow Canterbury a try to Jonathan Wright after a blatant and clear obstruction could cost the Tigers a semi-final spot.
Channel Nine’s commentary team did well not to swear when trying to understand how a try was awarded and there has been outrage from most of the rugby league fraternity since the game. In a competition so tight and with momentum in a game such an advantage, a wrong decision can easily be more than just giving up six points — it can kill a team’s chances of winning.
Wests were good on Friday and to come so close to the benchmark team of the league and lose with a minute to go in golden point hurt.
So much that Liam Fulton was the only one brave enough to front the press conference after the game.
The loss hurt even more because had the video referee made the correct decision the Tigers would have beaten the Bulldogs before golden point.
Let’s hope this isn’t even a talking point in two weeks when the Tigers are safely in the finals and at least a chance of having a finals victory taken from them.
Back row vacancy
Braith Anasta will play his last home game this Sunday against the team he will call home next year.
Many Tigers fans are wondering what number Anasta will have on his back next year.
With a superstar in the making in Curtis Sironen making the No.6 his own before injury, it seems Anasta will be in the back row to replace Gareth Ellis.
Hopefully he doesn’t hit great form until next season, and gives his new club a present this weekend by going easy on them.