The Panthers have been hit with a $50,000 fine, and trainer Corey Bocking has been handed a five-match ban for running in front of a goal-kicker in the match against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday.
Bocking ran into the path of Titans’ goal-kicker Jayden Campbell as he attempted a sideline conversion in the 75th minute of a close match.
Had Campbell kicked the goal, the Titans would have led 28-24. After the interference, he missed. Nathan Cleary then slotted a two-point field goal to force the match into golden point, before Blaize Talagi scored a try to stretch the premiers’ win streak to eight.
On Monday, the NRL came down with their proposed sanctions.
“It is alleged the trainer unnecessarily interfered with and distracted Gold Coast Titans player Jayden Campbell as he was attempting a conversion kick, in breach of the NRL Operations Manual and NRL Code of Conduct,” the NRL said in a statement.
“The proposed penalty takes into account previous breaches by Penrith Panthers trainers.”
Penrith trainer Shane Elford – and North Queensland counterpart Mitch Dunn – were hit with a one-match ban for squirting water on the ball earlier this year.
Asked if trainer conduct would be among the NRL’s typical end-of-season review, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said on the weekend: “At the end of every season, of course, we look at all of that, and look at ways of refining the on-field rules, and that would include trainers. Nothing is planned at the moment, but we’ll definitely look at that at the end of the year.
Panthers trainer Corey Bocking.Credit: Fox Sports
