Shaun Johnson talks to the referee during the loss to the Panthers Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Warriors will meet with NRL referee administrators this week to get clarification on calls after their loss to the defending champion Penrith Panthers.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley said it was not unusual for clubs to do this and he was happy to explain why some decisions went against the Warriors on Saturday.
However, Annesley was unimpressed with the response from club sponsor One New Zealand's chief executive Jason Paris, who wrote on social media that the referees had a bias against the Warriors.
"We can question their decision making, I have no problem with that, we can't question their integrity because not only does it question the integrity of the people on the field making the decisions and it questions the integrity of the entire NRL administration because we put these people on the field.
Paris has since withdrawn his accusation against NRL referees of "cheating of the highest order."
However he said there was unconscious bias against the Warriors.
A bit of interest in my support for the mighty @NZWarriors. Just to clear things up - I do not think the @NRL referees are cheating. They come to work everyday to do their best job for the game. My comments were made in the heat of the moment as a passionate fan.
— Jason Paris (@JasonCParis) May 8, 2023
However, I do…
Annesley said a referee's integrity could not be questioned.
"If anyone thinks that we would put someone on the field that we thought wasn't doing other than the very best job they can do by being completely impartial as referees are required to be then that is also an attack on the administration of the game."
Annesley said all losing clubs felt like they didn't get the rub of the green.
"This is not something peculiar to a team in New Zealand, or anywhere else for that matter.
"Every club when they lose they all believe that the so-called 50/50 decisions didn't go their way."
