NRL world erupts over Dragons obstruction drama as fans make point about Panthers
Penrith's Nathan Cleary accused Harry Grant of 'playing' for the penalty that cost him a winning goal field goal on Thursday night, before the Storm captain snatched victory with a try in golden point. Many fans suggested Grant took a dive when he ran towards Penrith's Moses Leota, who was pinged for blocking the Storm skipper when he tried to put pressure on Cleary's kick.
On Friday night, Dragons playmaker Lyhkan King-Togia was similarly accused of play-acting by fans after appealing for an obstruction penalty for contact with Marata Niukore. The Dragons five-eighth was knocked down in the defensive line and Pompey pounced to race through and score a contentious try to help level the scores.
The Bunker took a long time to make a judgement on the incident, before awarding the try to the Warriors. And the Dragons frustrations were compounded when Pompey crossed for what turned out to be the match-winning try for the Warriors ten minutes later, prompting Dragons coach Shane Flanagan to hit out over the obstruction call in his post-match press conference and questioning the double standards of decisions from officials.
Shane Flanagan and fans lash officials over obstruction drama
"I know you haven't asked the question but I am going to give an answer," a clearly irritated Flanagan said after the match. "It was really tough for us that what was an obstruction last week is not an obstruction this week.
"The boys asked out on the field numerous times and they just got shooed away, so that is frustrating. I started playing footy when I was four years old... I don't know the rules anymore, I dead set do not know the rules.
"It is tough, but we are a tough club and this is a really connected unit. We will fight really hard for the next three weeks." Many fans also pointed to the Panthers incident the night before, and questioned why Grant was awarded a penalty on a blocker call, but Lyhkan King-Togia was denied an obstruction penalty in two seperate incident that had many similarities.
Been a no try all year but given a try to hand the Warriors the game… I feel for Shane Flanagan. #nrlwarriorsdragons https://t.co/P8YlfxSvUw
— Rugby League News (@RugbyLeagueNews) August 15, 2025
Last night milking was ok if the player shouldn't be there anyway. Tonight against the Dragons it's play on?It's not about the obstructed defender making the tackle, it's about his centre having to leave his man. NRL officiating is a mess#nrlwarriorsdragons
— Alex Carter (@abbacarter) August 15, 2025
That has been called a no try 100 times this year.Outside shoulder - made contact.I do not understandooooo #nrlwarriorsdragons
— Jack Holdsworth (@jholdsworth93) August 15, 2025
How many more times is this club going to get screwed over by the nrl match officials and especially the bunker? These boys are busting their arses every week and the players are not allowed to decide who wins..really proud of the effort tonight #nrlwarriorsdragons #redv
— Joe REDV YNWA (@dragons2194) August 15, 2025
So the guy in The Bunker (Klein) who ruled that as ok, was the on-field referee last night who ruled that Leota took out Grant.#NRL #NRLWarriorsDragons pic.twitter.com/6zDKMijFO2
— Aaron Eugol (@a_eugol) August 15, 2025
Warriors reclaim top-four spot in drama-filled victory
The win for the Warriors saw them leapfrog Penrith into fourth on the ladder and reignite their hopes of securing a crucial top-four finish for the finals series, with three games to play. But the Dragons' slim finals hopes are all but over, despite a gutsy display that saw them jump out to a 10-0 lead after losing three players to concussion in the first half.
The Dragons had to activate 18th man Tyrell Sloan after back-rowers Hamish Stewart and Jack De Belin clashed heads and were ruled out of the contest. Both players were ruled as category-one concussions after clashing heads trying to bring down Warriors enforcer James Fisher-Harris, before the Dragons lost a third player when interchange forward Hame Sele failed an HIA following a 29th-minute head knock.
The injury-hit Warriors could have slumped to as low as seventh by the end of the round but instead, they extinguished the Dragons' slim finals hopes. Warriors coach Andrew Webster admitted it wasn't a pretty win but was delighted his side secured a crucial two competition points.
"Far from perfect. That's pretty clear," Webster said. "But an amazing amount of effort and scramble and working hard for each other and finding a way. When you're not playing the best football, I don't think your first win (after a losing streak) is going to be a 20-point victory. It's going to be a win. That's what we come up with tonight."
with AAP
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