The Warriors have contacted the NRL over a number of contentious calls in Sunday’s semi-final loss to Newcastle, including the late-game decision not to award a penalty against Tyson Frizell for an escort play that could have sent the match into extra time.
The non-call on the Frizell play came after the NRL last week sent out a reminder to clubs still in the finals race that referees would clamp down on escorts after the Dolphins accused the Warriors of getting away with the same tactic in week one of the finals.
“We’ve already asked the NRL for a couple of explanations, so we’ll wait to hear back,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.
“It was disappointing because a warning was sent out to the clubs about [escorts] this week; it was extremely obvious that’s what occurred with [Frizell].
“Then to have no review or anything done by the referee, it was disappointing. We have to move on.”
The Warriors had already used their captain’s challenge, which meant they could not ask for the Frizell play to be reviewed by the bunker.
The bunker had minutes earlier ruled that centre Ali Leiataua had got a thumb to an intercept attempt, and Te Maire Martin was controversially ruled to have stripped the ball from Greg Marzhew in a tackle with more than one defender involved.
As coach Andrew Webster said after the heartbreaking 12-10 loss to the spirited Knights: “I thought they were trying to find ways to take it off us.”
Fan frustration spilled over after the game with a handful of spectators throwing bottles onto the field in the direction of referee Ashley Klein.
NRL investigators have already started analysing TV footage to identify the culprits.
“We had close to 49,000 fans, which meant we broke a record, and while I know we can all get frustrated, that behaviour is unacceptable and poor,” George said.
“I know the stadium and the NRL are looking at it. Whatever action they take, we will support.”
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys added: “We began an investigation immediately on breaches of the NRL spectators’ code of conduct.
“We had an investigator from the integrity unit at the actual game. If those fans are found guilty, they will be banned for a period of time.
“It was a shame because the actual day was brilliant. I was there, and the atmosphere was so good.
“There will be no issues about Eden Park holding an Origin game there next year because of the actions of a few fans. Most of the fans were well-behaved all afternoon – we won’t punish 99.9 per cent of them because of the 0.1 per cent.”
Such was the success of Eden Park, V’landys said he was open to taking more events to Auckland, and pointed out there had been more than 80,000 fans sign up for ticketing information for the State of Origin scheduled for the venue next June.
The Warriors were granted their wish to remain at Go Media Stadium for week one of the finals, but nearly double the number of fans attended the semi-final at Eden Park. The NRL collects the gate takings for all finals games.