Cowboys Falter as Set Restart Controversy Clouds Heavy Loss to Tigers
The North Queensland Cowboys found themselves on the receiving end of a significant defeat, succumbing 44-16 to the Wests Tigers, with coach Todd Payten and captain Tom Dearden voicing their strong frustrations regarding the game’s officiating, particularly the contentious set restart calls. The Cowboys were repeatedly penalised for infringements around the ruck, a factor they believe significantly hampered their ability to gain momentum and defend effectively.
The match, which saw the Tigers secure a commanding victory with Kai Pearce-Paul and Luke Laulilii both crossing for doubles, was marred by a series of early penalties against the Cowboys. North Queensland conceded seven ruck infringements, with a staggering three occurring within the opening two and a half minutes. Furthermore, two infringements within the 10-metre line were also called against the Queensland outfit. This relentless pressure on their defensive structure was a key talking point post-game.
Forward Kai O’Donnell was also sent to the sin bin early in the contest for repeated infringements, further compounding the Cowboys’ woes and leaving them a man down during a crucial period.
Coach Todd Payten’s reaction to the set restart calls was one of thinly veiled disbelief. When questioned about the officiating, he drew a comparison to the NRL’s season-opening games in Las Vegas, suggesting a preference for a different interpretation of the rules.
“I like the way the game was reffed in Vegas,” Payten stated, a smirk playing on his lips. “It was a bit different to this one today. It’s bringing fatigue into the game and the game’s fast enough. They’re more willing to blow those ruck infringements. It’s hard sometimes because you’re not really sure what they’re for. I would prefer if it’s not a full-blown penalty then don’t give the ruck infringement. They’ve opened it up and this is the game. We’ve just got to move forward and find a way to handle ourselves better.”
Captain Tom Dearden, seated beside his coach, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the player’s confusion and the difficulty in adapting to the officiating.
“The most frustrating bit is when it happens, you don’t know what it’s for,” Dearden explained. “To start the game we had three or four back-to-back, but we had no idea. It’s not like they’re calling six again and telling us what it’s for; we’re just seeing the arm go up. Our job’s to keep turning up but at the start of the game we had no clue what the six agains were for. I think we made 12 or 14 tackles in a row in the game and we had no idea what was going on.”
Dearden confirmed that during a break in play, referee Grant Atkins attributed the calls to a “mix of everything,” encompassing both ruck mistakes and being caught inside the 10-metre line.
“In play it’s frustrating to not know what they’re for and how to fix it up,” he added.
The Cowboys’ defensive frailties were evident throughout the match, with the Tigers capitalising on opportunities to extend their lead. A crucial moment came when Kai Pearce-Paul crossed for his maiden try in a Tigers jersey following a penalty on halfway, pushing the score to 16-2. From that point onwards, the Cowboys struggled to mount a significant challenge, conceding further points as the Tigers asserted their dominance.
The impact of these early penalties on the Cowboys’ performance cannot be understated. The constant defensive sets drained their energy and disrupted their rhythm, making it difficult to establish any attacking cohesion. This is a stark contrast to the Cowboys’ aspirations for the season and a concerning trend for coach Payten, who now faces the task of rectifying these defensive lapses quickly.
Payten attributed the loss, in part, to the team’s slow starts, a recurring theme that also plagued them in their Las Vegas encounter against the Knights. “Today we started physically and then just snowballed very quickly,” he commented.
On a more positive note for the Cowboys, forward Heilum Luki received some relief. He was fined a modest $1,000 for a grade one careless high tackle from the first half. While Luki’s attempt to tackle Alex Twal was forceful, his body height was misjudged, leading to the infraction.
Meanwhile, the Tigers also had their own injury concerns and disciplinary matters to contend with. Api Koroisau was placed on report early in the game for a cannonball tackle and subsequently fined $1,000 for grade one dangerous contact. The team also lost Taylan May in the 15th minute due to a shoulder injury, with coach Benji Marshall confirming he would undergo scans.
“He seemed OK, but it didn’t feel good at the time,” Marshall said of May’s injury.
Despite these setbacks, the Tigers’ performance was strong, and they ultimately secured a comprehensive victory. For the Cowboys, however, the focus now shifts to understanding and addressing the officiating concerns and improving their defensive resolve to avoid similar outcomes in the future. The pressure on Todd Payten to turn the team’s fortunes around is undoubtedly mounting.
