The fallout and reaction from Wigan Warriors defeating Penrith Panthers to record a fifth World Club Challenge victory seems to have been split positively and negatively depending on whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere.
For those in Super League, it was viewed as a brilliant win that was masterclassed by Matt Peet who has now lifted the three major trophies in his three seasons with Wigan Warriors.
Sadly, if you’re from the southern hemisphere or are affiliated with the NRL then the opinion has generally been that Wigan cheated their way to the win.
That seemed to echo the events of last year where Penrith Panthers claimed they weren’t ready or hadn’t taken the game as seriously as St Helens.
Perhaps it’s just a trait that comes out when the Australians lose as it has once again reared its ugly head with accusations of a robbery, of lying and bias refereeing all coming from figures down under.
There certainly was some controversy surrounding the Jake Wardle try in which the Wigan centre was deemed short by many, but without sufficient evidence, it couldn’t be overturned by video referee Chris Kendall.
Those who have bemoaned that decision fail to recall when Wigan split Penrith apart off a set play but had Bevan French’s brilliant try called back on what was also a split decision.
Penrith’s head coach Ivan Cleary has since had his say and no such sour grapes exist it would seem.
Speaking post-match to Sky Sports, Cleary explained: “I think definitely the better team [won], absolutely.
“I think that the great thing about this particular competition is that we get to see the best teams together.
“It’s a pretty good spectacle, I would say, and Wigan were too good tonight.”
It’s just a shame many of his counterparts down under can’t take the same view.
Australian press display sour grapes over Wigan Warriors win
Ex-NRL winger Josh Mansour called out Liam Moore for “bias refereeing”, but others went further with former Australian international Mark Geyer labelling Liam Moore as being on Wigan’s side.
Posting on X, he said: “Ya gotta beat more than the 17 in Wigan jerseys! 3 shocking decisions from the dude in the blue shirt wearing a balaclava.”
Ya gotta beat more than the 17 in Wigan jerseys! 3 shocking decisions from the dude in the blue shirt wearing a balaclava 👀
— Mark Geyer (@markMGgeyer) February 24, 2024
Phil Gould who had the infamous tweet about Penrith being able to declare at halftime has since called Jake Wardle a “fibber”, whilst Penrith winger Brian To’o went a step further.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald he claimed that Wardle knew the ball wasn’t over the line and he accused Liam Moore of knowing the same, giving the ominous warning that “lying is a sin”.
Further media reaction can be seen in an article here with some of the takes being laughable.
Anonymous
February 26, 2024 at 6:16 am
What a load of tosh by your reporter Sam Cook. To say that it depends on whether you’re “from the nothern or southern hemisphere is rubbish. I’m from the northern hemisphere and when refereeing is of a poor quality and suspiciously bias then the neutrality of the officials can be called into question.
(1) Why was Jake Wardle’s try allowed to stand on the point of bodies in the tackle hiding the view of the ball, when in fact given that Wardle was well short of the try line and there was suspicion of a grounding short of the line and a double movement, whilst Tylan May’s try was chalked off because the ball couldn’t be seen when May was clearly over the line.
Could it be bias here in favour of Wigan again. Harry Smith was cleared to play before the game by the disciplinary committee despite being on a dangerous throw charge.
The RL community are getting sick up to the hind teeth of the powers that be going everything in favour of Wigan.
In the manor of Wigans win is not good for the game here. Commentators and reporters outside of the RL are treating our officials as a joke.
God knows what potential sponsors are making of all this.
It comes across as being fixed in the manor of wrestling.
Troy O'Carroll
February 26, 2024 at 8:10 am
Are you an Australian living in the UK? You can smell the sour grapes from here. You win some you lose some and when you do you’ve got to be big enough to deal with it.
Congratulations to the Wigan club on a deserved win.
Anonymous
February 26, 2024 at 8:39 am
Reply to Troy O’Carroll,
No I’m not a Aussie living in the UK. I’m english born and bred. Are you a Wigan fan by any chance?. Both the Wardle and May try’s had the ball obscured by players bodies, the difference is that Wardle was well short of the try line when his body hit the ground, for Wardle to have scored he’d have to of reached out on put the ball over the line. There was also suspicion of a double movement in Wardle getting closer to the line whilst May was clearly over the line when his try was disallowed.
Also why was Harry Smith cleared by the disciplinary panel to play in the WCC when he was up for a dangerous throw. £250 doesn’t fit the crime. The RL keep going on about player welfare.
It’s good for us “poms” to get one over the Aussies but not if it puts the game into disrepute.
As for Wigan, the only thing they brought to the table was excellent defence. Penrith defended just as well, dominated territory and bombed 4 clear cut chances to score.
The difference was Wigan took the few chances they had and Liam Moore’s decisions on the Wardle and May try’s.