LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
David Klemmer has found himself in hot water with NRL fans after a controversial moment in the dying seconds of the Wests Tigers' nail-biting victory over Parramatta on Easter Monday.
Aidan Sezer's clutch field goal secured a 17-16 upset win for the Tigers, with Clint Gutherson missing a penalty kick after the final siren that could have won it for the Eels at CommBank Stadium.
Sezer's decisive kick broke the tie in the final minute of a heart-pounding showdown, but the drama didn't end there.
The Eels were handed a penalty on the restart when Jahream Bula fumbled the ball and Isaiah Papali'i scooped it up in an offside position.
This set the stage for Gutherson to attempt a match-winning penalty kick from a tricky angle near the touchline.
Klemmer, positioned closest to Gutherson as he lined up the kick, made a bold move by jumping in the air in an apparent effort to distract the Eels captain.
This brazen tactic did not go unnoticed, with many in the NRL community questioning Klemmer's sportsmanship.
According to the rules, an opposing player is not allowed to interfere with a kicker during a goal attempt, leading some to believe that Klemmer should have been penalized or Gutherson given another shot.
When the penalty kick missed the mark, Klemmer showed no mercy in celebrating Gutherson's misfire, sparking criticism from NRL fans in the aftermath.