- Nathan Cleary stayed behind after full-time to meet footy fans
- Controversy denied Penrith a first World Club Challenge title
- Greg Alexander called the incident the worst video referral decision he has ever seen
Nathan Cleary has once again proven he is footy’s Mr Nice Guy by returning to sign autographs for fans long after his full-time participation in the World Club Challenge.
A highly controversial second-half try for Wigan Warriors center Jake Wardle and a rough defensive performance saw the hosts clinch a record-equalling fifth title in a 16-12 victory, while once again preventing the Panthers from completing their trophy cabinet to make.
Despite the loss, Cleary showed his true colors by staying out in the cold to talk to fans, sign autographs and pose for photos.
One fan posted on social media about the superstar halfback’s revealing gesture.
“The game ended half an hour ago, but Nathan Cleary is still posing for selfies and signing autographs,” he wrote.
Nathan Cleary was praised for staying around to meet fans after Sunday’s match, despite the controversial nature of Penrith’s loss
‘What a player and what a guy. Thanks to @PenrithPanthers and @NRL’.
Cleary is known for spending time with fans, with the three-time premiership-winning halfback giving away most of his clothes to supporters at a Panthers fan event just before last year’s grand final.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley says the process has let down the officials of Sunday’s World Club Challenge, with Panthers legend Greg Alexander describing the call to award Wigan’s Jake Wardle a controversial try as “the worst video refereeing decision I have made have ever seen’.
The visitors were also penalized for a strip of Liam Martin even though he was the only person in the tackle, while Taylan May was denied a late try that would have linked things to the final play of the match.
But it is the Wardle decision that has angered most pundits, with a stack of former players criticizing the ruling on social media.
Wardle was brought down well before the line, but the referee saw it differently and decided to send the ball up as a try, leaving the video referee to find definitive evidence to overturn the ball.
That wouldn’t have happened in the NRL, where the Bunker could watch try-scoring plays without being influenced by the on-field decision.
“Watching it on TV from this side of the world, it certainly seems like it was short,” Annesley said.
‘They (the referees) are trying to make the right decisions but the process may have let them down.
Jake Wardle appeared to be taken down well before the line (photo)
Greg Alexander called the Jake Wardle try the worst video referral decision he has ever seen
‘I have always believed that the Bunker should make independent decisions, without any restrictions.
‘In the NRL, if a referee thinks a try has been scored, he awards it on the spot. The Bunker then looks at it in the background and revokes the decision if necessary. If a referee rules an incident as a no-try, the Bunker will review the incident and reverse the decision if supported by video evidence.
‘When it comes to sending decisions where referees are forced to make a decision when he or she may not even be sure, that could result in the Bunker having to uphold the decision as it is not final can prove it was wrong.
‘Some time ago we abolished the referee calling on the pitch about scoring tries, so that the Bunker could independently assess the decision.
‘In the case of a try, it is watched in the background, without the referee making a decision one way or the other.
‘I know the Super League doesn’t have the same technology as we do, but I think the fact that the referee called it a try on the pitch and the Bunker had to find evidence to overrule it may be the source of the problem .
“I think the need to find sufficient evidence to overturn that decision is the root of yesterday’s issue.”