![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790003416_9_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
Watch every game of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n He also believed the grand final job was \u201cAdam Gee\u2019s to lose\u201d while NRL360 host Braith Anasta supported that potential appointment.<\/p>\n Regardless, three refereeing decisions on Sunday proved costly for the Warriors \u2014 but the first controversial call was one that the panel agreed Klein got right.<\/p>\n 1. THE KALYN PONGA PASS<\/p>\n It took 71 minutes before the contentious decisions began.<\/p>\n The first came after Bradman Best dropped a Kalyn Ponga pass, with Newcastle using a captain\u2019s challenge to claim Ali Leiataua got a touch on the ball in its flight path.<\/p>\n While the replays looked inconclusive, the Bunker deemed that the ball\u2019s rotation indicated it was in fact touched and The Australian\u2019s Brent Read said he was \u201ccomfortable with the call\u201d.<\/p>\n Anasta also revealed the NRL backed that decision, saying \u201cwe can all live with that one\u201d \u2014 before the fireworks ensued when analysing Martin\u2019s strip.<\/p>\n Knock on call against the Warriors.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n 2. TE MAIRE MARTIN\u2019S STRIP<\/p>\n Only moments later, Knights winger Greg Marzhew looked to have dropped the ball only 10 metres out from his own try line, handing the Warriors an opportunity with a two-point deficit.<\/p>\n Klein, however, deemed the New Zealand playmaker had stripped the ball and a penalty was awarded.<\/p>\n The Warriors challenged that call and were handed a huge blow after the Bunker claimed Martin had moved his fingers into a stripping motion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a loose carry every day of the week for me,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey said that he moved his fingers in a raking motion. Does he have time to move his fingers?\u201d<\/p>\n Ritchie agreed, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s more absurd the more I see it that that\u2019s a strip, there\u2019s no way to justify it, I don\u2019t care what you say. The Warriors were gypped at that very moment.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that is a strip then I am an eskimo.\u201d<\/p>\n But not everyone was on the same page and Read believed the slow-motion angles did prove Martin made a play at the ball during the tackle.<\/p>\n Watch every game of the 2026 NRLW Finals Series LIVE and ad-break free during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n Latrell Mitchell set to hit open market | 05:13<\/p>\n \u201cI can live with the decision, because I think there is a stripping motion… if you watch it in slow-mo I think there\u2019s a stripping motion in there,\u201d Read said.<\/p>\n Anasta wasn\u2019t buying it, replying: \u201cThe key there is you\u2019re saying in slow-mo Ready, this is not slow. This is fast, hard impact. You don\u2019t have time.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god, Ready, Ready.\u201d<\/p>\n But league legend Gorden Tallis then asked if it was a \u201cloose carry\u201d from Marzhew and Read agreed. <\/p>\n \u201cWell what are you talking about? Let\u2019s just stop there,\u201d Anasta said, shaking his head in disbelief before moving on.<\/p>\n The Te Maire Martin strip call.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n 3. THE TYSON FRIZELL ESCORT<\/p>\n The NRL reportedly admitted the officials got this call wrong \u2014 and it proved to be the game-defining moment.<\/p>\n With 50 seconds left on the clock, Fletcher Sharpe fielded a bomb close to his line and looked to have won the game for the Knights by reeling the ball in.<\/p>\n But as replays were shown, Tyson Frizell looked to have blocked the Warriors chasers by raising his arms and moving towards the ball.<\/p>\n A penalty should have been awarded, given the NRL\u2019s admission, which would have allowed the Warriors to level the scores and take the clash to extra time.<\/p>\n Luckily for Warriors fans, the panel, and Read, all agreed this decision was a howler.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a shocking call, it\u2019s a shocking call. Tyson has played it really well… there was only one thing in his mind, to block,\u201d Read said.<\/p>\n The Tyson Frizell escort that went unpunished.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bad call and Ashley Klein has been demoted, and he probably deserves to be given the significance of that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Anasta added: \u201cHas anyone ever seen Tyson Frizell catch a bomb? He was two metres away from the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are all laughing here, but there was 50,000 fans in Auckland who weren\u2019t laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n But the decision highlighted one key question \u2014 why can\u2019t the Bunker step in for the glaring mistakes?<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bunker was brought in for the howler, the absolute howler that costs games. That\u2019s a howler,\u201d Ritchie said.<\/p>\n The Bunker\u2019s involvement in games has been a hot topic for several years, with powerful voices like veteran coach Wayne Bennett calling for the technology to be scrapped.<\/p>\n PRESS CONFERENCES<\/p>\n WARRIORS: Webster\u2019s scathing take on calls that ended Warriors\u2019 season<\/a><\/p>\n