- Api Koroisau was penalized for a professional foul against the Sharks
- The captain of the Tigers was firm in his stance of marking for the tackle
- Referee Adam Gee disagreed, a decision criticised by fans and football pundits
A host of football commentators, as well as countless fans on social media, have loudly questioned the controversial penalty on Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau, with the consensus being that referee Adam Gee made the wrong decision.
At that point, Cronulla led just 12-6, with the contest in the balance until Koroisau was given a ten-minute penalty for what was deemed a professional foul.
Gee insisted the Tigers hooker was not upright on the scoreboard after tackling Ronaldo Mulitalo and, despite Koroisau’s spirited protest, was sent off on Friday night.
“You didn’t get here in time,” Gee was heard saying on the field.
Fox League’s Corey Parker was not convinced by Gee’s decision, which came midway through the first half at Pointsbet Stadium.
“It was frustrating for Api Koroisau, who wanted to challenge (as captain) that he wasn’t good at it. It would be a fair challenge if he did,” Parker said.
“He was standing there in front.”
Rabbids hooker Damien Cook added during half-time analysis that the sin-binning was ‘a bit harsh’, with Panthers great Greg Alexander echoing the sentiment.
A host of football commentators have questioned Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau’s decision to send off the referee on Friday, with the consensus being that referee Adam Gee (pictured) made the wrong call.
Koroisau stood firm in his position as a marker, but could not convince the referee, who gave him a ten-minute penalty for a professional foul against the Sharks, who eventually won 58-6.
Channel 9 commentators Phil Gould and Andrew Johns also said in their coverage that Koroisau should have stayed on the field.
Dual-code international Lote Tuqiri spoke for many fans when he posted on social media that the Tigers captain was “drunk”.
It turned out to be a night to forget for Benji Marshall’s men, who were eventually defeated 58-6.
They also appear to be on track to ‘win’ their third consecutive wooden spoon.
“It doesn’t matter (Koroisau’s penalty), they scored 58 points,” Marshall fumed after the match, also apologising to the club’s long-suffering fans.
‘We talked all week about being defensive and it didn’t get us anywhere, whether we got a penalty or not, it doesn’t matter.
“This is the first time we’ve had that attitude all year. In most games we’re competing, but tonight wasn’t the case.”
