More drama for Wests Tigers as furious star Asu Kepaoa refuses to shake hands with Clint Gutherson
More drama for Wests Tigers as furious star refuses to shake hands with Clint Gutherson after Eels skipper challenged him after loss
- Full-time Tigers winger Asu Kepaoa was not happy
- Ignored handshake from Eels fullback Clint Gutherson
- Tigers are 0-6 in 2023, on track for another wooden spoon
Wests Tigers winger Asu Kepaoa has come under fire after refusing to shake hands with Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson full-time on Easter Monday.
Images circulating widely on social media show the 23-year-old not in the mood to greet Eels’ full-back – who reportedly challenged the young striker after the 28-22 defeat at Accor Stadium.
Gutherson can be seen telling Kepaoa to take the ball – but the winger ignored him before the pair exchanged words in heated scenes.
Kepaoa had attempted to steal the ball back from Parramatta’s Will Penisini with seconds left on the clock as the Tigers attempted to clinch an improbable win.
Throughout the gripping 80 minutes it was Eels halfback Mitchell Moses who came back to chase the joint venture club, giving the 28-year-old his NRL debut in 2014.
Moses finished with four try assists in an impressive performance to further justify his recent $6 million contract extension.
Wests Tigers winger Asu Kepaoa is under fire after refusing to shake hands with Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson full-time on Easter Monday
While Gutherson is believed to have challenged the Tigers’ fledgling weapon, many footy fans thought it didn’t look right
Eel’s halfback Mitchell Moses was the difference and finished with four try assists against the club to give him his NRL debut
Speaking after Monday’s hard-fought victory, Moses praised his former club for the part they played in the early years of his NRL career.
“They gave me my debut. They jump-started my career,” he said.
“I owe a lot to the club, they have been very good to me. It’s a bit weird playing against them, but I’m just glad we won.’
Moses also believes the Eels could pose a threat to the premiership, despite defeats at the hands of the Storm, Sharks and Roosters already this season.
“We played some really good footy sides in the first few rounds and we’ve been in the games most of the time,” he said.
“We worked hard for each other. It’s good that we won (Monday) and we can learn from the lessons instead of losing and learning from those lessons.’
The Eels next host the Bulldogs at Commbank Stadium on April 16, as the scoreless Tigers bid their farewells.
As the pressure mounts on Tim Sheens, assistant coach Benji Marshall was spotted calling the shots from the coach box on Monday.
Marshall will take over as head coach at Concord in 2025.