LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Andrew Abdo has indicated that the NRL was compelled to take decisive action following the sixth incident involving a Penrith trainer in just five seasons. This came after the Panthers were hit with a substantial $50,000 fine and a five-game suspension for Corey Bocking.
The Panthers have maintained that Bocking's action of running into Jayden Campbell's line of sight during a crucial conversion attempt was an "honest mistake." This misstep occurred as Campbell was set to execute a kick that could have given the Titans a late four-point lead during Saturday's match.
Ultimately, Campbell missed the important sideline shot, allowing the four-time defending champions, the Panthers, to secure a victory in extra time.
Titans hooker Sam Verrills expressed his frustration regarding the incident on Tuesday, stating, "I don't know what sort of trainer runs in front of a kicker." He continued, "He's come out and said he didn't mean it but it looked pretty obvious." Verrills contrasted this with the conduct of his own team, asserting, "I know for a fact the trainers wouldn't run in front of the goalkicker 10 metres out. At the end of the day, the game's done, we can't do too much about it. (But) it was frustrating."