- Nathan Cleary stayed after full time to meet the football fans.
- Controversy denied Penrith their first World Club Challenge title
- Greg Alexander called the incident the worst video referee decision he has ever seen.
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Nathan Cleary has proven once again that he is football’s Mr. Nice Guy by staying long after his full time at the World Club Challenge to sign autographs for fans.
A highly controversial second-half try from Wigan Warriors center Jake Wardle and a brave defensive display sealed the hosts a record-equalling fifth title in a 16-12 victory, while again preventing the Panthers will complete their trophy case.
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 took to social media to post about the superstar running back’s telling gesture.
“The game ended half an hour ago, but Nathan Cleary is still here posing for selfies and signing autographs,” he wrote.
Nathan Cleary was praised for staying to meet fans after Sunday’s match despite the controversial nature of Penrith’s defeat.
‘What a player and what a guy. Credit to @PenrithPanthers and @NRL.’
Cleary is known for spending time with fans, and the three-time premiership-winning halfback gave away most of his clothing to fans at a Panthers fan event just before last year’s grand final.
NRL director of football Graham Annesley says referees were disappointed by the process at Sunday’s World Club Challenge, with Panthers legend Greg Alexander describing the decision to award Wigan’s Jake Wardle a controversial try as “the worst video referee decision I’ve ever seen.”
The visitors were also penalized for a Liam Martin throw-in despite him being the only person in the tackle, while Taylan May was denied a late try that would have tied things up with the final play of the game.
But it is Wardle’s decision that has angered most pundits, with plenty of former players criticizing the ruling on social media.
Wardle was brought down very close to the line, but the referee saw differently and decided to send it up as a try, leaving the video referee needing to find definitive evidence to disallow it.
That wouldn’t have happened in the NRL, where Bunker could watch try plays without being influenced by the on-field decision.
“Watching it from this side of the world on TV, it certainly looked like it was short,” Annesley said.
‘They [referees] They are out there trying to make the right decisions, but the process may have let them down.
Jake Wardle appeared to have been brought down well below the line (pictured)
Greg Alexander called Jake Wardle’s try the worst video referee decision he has ever seen.
‘I have always been of the opinion that the Bunker should make independent and unrestricted decisions.
‘In the NRL, if a referee believes a try has been scored, he awards it on the spot. The Bunker then reviews it in the background and, if necessary, overrides the decision. If a referee calls an incident a no contest, the Bunker reviews the incident and will overturn the decision if supported by video evidence.
“In terms of sending decisions with referees forced to make a decision, when they may not even be sure, that can lead to the Bunker having to confirm the decision because they can’t definitively prove that it was wrong.
‘Some time ago, we got rid of the referee making an on-field decision on the scoring of tries so that the Bunker could review the decision independently.
‘In the case of a try, it is reviewed 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 us, but I think the fact that the referee called it a try on the field and then the Bunker had to find evidence to disallow it is what potentially caused the problem.
“I think the need to find enough evidence to overturn that decision is what led to yesterday’s problem.”