Cowboys fans are outraged over a viral video that appears to show a Penrith trainer pouring water onto the football during Saturday night’s dramatic 30-all draw.
Footage captured by a spectator and shared widely on social media shows the trainer squirting water from a bottle onto the ball just before Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards kicked off midway through the match.
The NRL has acknowledged the incident and is expected to review it on Monday to determine if disciplinary action is warranted against the defending champions.
A wet ball can be more difficult to handle from a kickoff, potentially creating an advantage for the kicking team. Although there’s no explicit rule prohibiting the manipulation of the ball’s condition, such actions may still fall foul of general fair play provisions.
Frustrated fans took to Facebook, calling the move “not cricket” and questioning its sportsmanship.
The game in Townsville was one of the season’s most thrilling, with the Cowboys coming from behind twice to draw level. Neither side could break the deadlock in golden point, missing several match-winning opportunities during extra time.
Wide World of Sports has reached out to the Panthers for a response.
