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RNZ News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL clubs face fines for ball-squirting trainers
Penrith Panthers players. Photo: photosport Two National Rugby League teams are facing A$10,000 ($NZ10,900) fines as punishment for on-pitch trainers dousing the ball with water from drinks bottles to make it harder to catch during a match in Townsville last weekend. Reigning champions Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys were locked up at 30-30 last Saturday after the regulation 80 minutes, sending the game into "golden point" extra time. Panthers trainer Shane Elford, who also serves as the club's general manager of football, was spotted by the referee squirting the ball with liquid from a drinks bottle before his team kicked off the first extra period. Another ball was brought onto the field, but it later transpired that home trainer Mitch Dunn had been spotted by officials doing the same thing before another kickoff during extra time. The NRL on Friday served the clubs breach notices, giving them five days to respond or accept the fines along with two-game bans for the offending trainers. "During the match, trainers from both clubs were observed squirting liquid onto the football prior to kick restarts of play, in contravention of the NRL Rules," the league said in a statement. "The NRL has ... reminded all clubs about the limitations of the roles of trainers on match days." In the event, neither team was able to score during the additional 10 minutes and the match finished in a draw, a relative rarity in the league since sudden-death extra time was introduced in 2003. - Reuters
The Star
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby League-NRL clubs face fines for ball-squirting trainers
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Two National Rugby League teams are facing A$10,000 ($6,431) fines as punishment for on-pitch trainers dousing the ball with water from drinks bottles to make it harder to catch during a match in Townsville last weekend. Reigning champions Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys were locked up at 30-30 last Saturday after the regulation 80 minutes, sending the game into "golden point" extra time. Panthers trainer Shane Elford, who also serves as the club's general manager of football, was spotted by the referee squirting the ball with liquid from a drinks bottle before his team kicked off the first extra period. Another ball was brought onto the field but it later transpired that home trainer Mitch Dunn had been spotted by officials doing the same thing before another kickoff during extra time. The NRL on Friday served the clubs breach notices, giving them five days to respond or accept the fines along with two-game bans for the offending trainers. "During the match, trainers from both clubs were observed squirting liquid onto the football prior to kick restarts of play, in contravention of the NRL Rules," the league said in a statement. "The NRL has ... reminded all clubs about the limitations of the roles of trainers on match days." In the event, neither team was able to score during the additional 10 minutes and the match finished in a draw, a relative rarity in the league since sudden-death extra time was introduced in 2003. ($1 = 1.5550 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Explosive twist in ball tampering controversy as Cowboys caught out
The NRL's ball tampering controversy has taken a fresh turn with the North Queensland Cowboys being caught out. The footage came to light on Monday afternoon in the wake of Penrith's trainer being sprung spraying the ball with liquid from a water bottle before the opening period of golden point. Viral footage showed the Steeden was left dripping wet after Shane Elford twice sprayed the ball before handing it to fullback Dylan Edwards to kick-off. Cowboys coach Todd Payten told Code Sports his coaching staff noticed Elford doing the same thing throughout the match. But now CODE Sports has revealed footage showing Cowboys trainer Mitchell Dunn doing the same thing as Elford ahead of a kick-off. After being handed the ball by referee Todd Smith, Dunn turns and appears to spray the ball with a water bottle before handing it off. Dunn however was busted by Smith who yelled at the trainer for what he had just done. 'Hang on, hang on, no, no, no, no, no, nup, nup, give me the ball. You're not doing that. No way, get another footy, another football,' Smith says. 'He squirted it with water.' The irritated referee then kicks the ball to the sidelines before requesting a new ball to get the second period of golden point underway. 'I need a ball,' Smith reiterated. 'He squirted the ball with water. C'mon.' has contacted the Cowboys regarding the footage. The twist comes after Penrith's trainer copped plenty of criticism with Fox League commentator Andrew Voss saying trainers shouldn't be anywhere near the ball. 'Trainers, don't touch our balls,' Voss said on SEN's Vossy & Brandy show. 'Under no circumstance should trainers be touching the balls. It's a bit odd and it's a really quick fix.' Voss asked: 'When the ball is caught by the player, is any of the water still on the ball after it's flown through the air?' Panthers legend and board member Greg Alexander replied: 'I'm going to say not much (water).' Voss added: 'Maybe its more of an act of stupidity than cheating? The science of it might actually dismiss it as an act of futility that achieves absolutely nothing. 'I think he (Elford) should be fined.' Alexander agreed: 'It doesn't look good.'
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Don't touch our balls': NRL erupts over dodgy Panthers trainer video
NRL trainers have been urged not to touch the ball under any circumstances after the Panthers came under fire for a dodgy act over the weekend. Footy fans believed Penrith had some explaining to do after a viral video appeared to catch a veteran trainer red-handed during the Panthers' golden point thriller against the Cowboys. The 30-30 draw was full of controversy as both clubs butchered field goal attempts in extra time at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday night. The most controversial moment of all was only revealed after the match with amateur sideline footage appearing to show Panthers trainer Shane Elford spraying the ball with liquid from a water bottle before the opening period of golden point. The viral clip showed the Steeden was left dripping wet after Elford had twice sprayed the ball before handing it to fullback Dylan Edwards to kick-off. has contacted the Panthers, who are aware of the video but have chosen not to comment. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss criticised Elford on Monday, while also questioning what effect the water would have on the ball once it is kicked and flies through the air. 'Trainers, don't touch our balls,' Voss said on SEN's Vossy & Brandy show. 'Under no circumstance should trainers be touching the balls. It's a bit odd and it's a really quick fix.' Voss asked: 'When the ball is caught by the player, is any of the water still on the ball after it's flown through the air?' Panthers legend and board member Greg Alexander replied: 'I'm going to say not much (water).' Voss added: 'Maybe its more of an act of stupidity than cheating? The science of it might actually dismiss it as an act of futility that achieves absolutely nothing. 'I think he (Elford) should be fined.' Alexander agreed: 'It doesn't look good.' Rugby league fans weren't impressed at all with Penrith's trainer, with many calling for the NRL to sanction the Panthers for tampering with the ball. One fan wrote on X: 'I have been on about this for years. 'The NRL has done nothing to curb the scourge of trainers all over the field, blatantly coaching and guiding, as well as being a totally benefit free risk to interfering with a match. Idiots.' As first reported by Code Sports, the NRL is also aware of the video. Cowboys coach Todd Payten has told Code Sports, his coaching staff noticed Elford doing the same thing throughout the match. 'He did it before every kick-off,' Payten said. 'We noticed it in the (coaching) box. I will let the NRL handle it. I don't know what they're going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely. 'I don't want to say anymore.' At one point of the viral clip, Elford is seen spraying the ball while talking to hooker Mitch Kenny with other players standing nearby as he committed the act. Wetting the ball makes it heavier and more slippery for opposition teams to handle. It is not the only time Elford and Panthers trainers have been accused of overstepping the mark. There were calls before the 2022 NRL Grand Final for Panthers trainers Pete Green and Elford to be banned from the season finale after a series of incidents with opposition players. Saturday night's incident is now expected to be scrutinised by NRL officials. The Panthers have their own reasons for being upset after the referees missed an off-side infringement that would have given Penrith an opportunity to kick a match winning penalty goal. With scores locked at 30-30 with a minute and a half to play in regulation time, a Panthers kick appeared to hit Scott Drinkwater on the foot before falling to John Bateman in an off-side position. The referee ruled play on, but a penalty goal would have given Nathan Cleary a kick from 30 metres out to ice the win.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers legend's telling confession as NRL set to sanction club over trainer act
Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander has responded to footage of the NRL team's trainer Shane Elford spraying water on the ball before a kick-off against the Cowboys, denying suggestions it's a widespread practice around the league. The NRL is expected to hit the Panthers with a financial sanction after vision went viral of the moment Elford sprayed the ball with water before handing it to Dylan Edwards. Many were left convinced that Elford had deliberately wet the ball to make it slippery for the Cowboys players when they caught it, although some suggested he might have simply been cleaning dirt off it. According to , the NRL is aware of the footage and is likely to fine the Panthers. "Could this be seen as ball tampering?" veteran reporter Phil Rothfield asked on Sky Sports radio on Monday morning. "I guess a little water on the ball is going to make it a bit more difficult for whoever is taking the kick. 'I think it is against the spirit of the game. It's not a major scandal, but I think the NRL will certainly fine Shane Elford. People I spoke to on the weekend said it's not the first time he has done it and they've spoken to him about a couple of little tricks he gets up to on the football field. I am sure he will be fined at some stage later this week.' Speaking on SEN radio, Alexander responded to suggestions it's a widespread practice amongst many teams. The Panthers legend doesn't believe it is, saying he's never seen it before. "It was a sandpaper moment," Alexander joked, referencing the Aussie cricket ball-tampering scandal. "I haven't spotted it before. I can't tell you [if Penrith are the only team that do it] because I haven't witnessed it happening before." Co-host Andrew Voss said the NRL should have a blanket rule that trainers aren't allowed to touch the ball. "Graham Annesley, the head of football, should release a statement his morning that trainers don't touch the balls," he said. "There is no reason for a trainer to touch a ball under any circumstances. It should be a really quick fix for the NRL." Just making the ball slippery from the kickoff so the other team causes a knock on. All legit 😂 — GameFi Gremlin (@roningamefi) May 11, 2025 RELATED: Ezra Mam's return to NRL thrown into doubt by possible suspension Terrell May in worrying moment as Origin hopes take massive hit Speaking after the game, which finished in a 30-30 draw, Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he believed Elford was doing it "before every kick-off". Payten said: 'We noticed it in the (coaching) box. I will let the NRL handle it. I don't know what they're going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely. I don't want to say any more.' Elford has worked as a trainer for the majority of the Panthers' four-straight NRL premierships. He played 178 top-grade games from 1997 to 2010, including 89 for the Panthers across two separate stints. He played in the Wests Tigers' grand final-winning side in 2005.
