Ref under fire after Penrith was controversially denied a world title by Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
Penrith have been denied their first World Club Challenge championship, with the dominant NRL team defeated by Super League champions Wigan in England.
A disputed second-half try by Warriors centre Jake Wardle and a tenacious defensive performance gave the hosts a record-tying fifth title in a 16-12 victory, preventing the Panthers from completing their trophy cabinet.
The Super League champions, like the Sydney Roosters, have won five world titles.
Penrith failed to add the global title to their NRL premiership for the second year in a row, after losing a heartbreaker 13-12 at home to St Helens in 2023.
The Panthers will have plenty of questions regarding Wardle’s match-winning try at the sold-out DW Stadium, which was awarded despite the England international appearing to ground the ball far short of the line.
A video review could not reverse the on-field decision to award a try, with replays of the apparent grounding hidden by the bodies of Penrith duo Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards as they attempted desperate tackles.
To make matters worse for Penrith, centre Taylan May scored what would have been a dramatic leveller with a scrambling effort on the final play of the game, but inconclusive evidence meant the no-try decision held.
Football fans watching from home resorted to social media to complain about the referee.
‘I’ll never grumble about NRL refs again,’ remarked one fan.
‘Panthers robbed by bad ref/video ref,’ another responded.
‘Panthers robbed tonight, the last Wigan try was never a try, typical English refs making the incorrect calls again,’ claimed a third.
The Panthers’ performance was far from their finest, with six errors in 25 minutes after falling behind as their offense battled to click.
The National Rugby League champions took
Instead, former Parramatta player and Wigan five-eighth Bevan French delivered the deadly plays with some wonderful passing.
He set up the match’s first points with a double cut-out ball for winger Abbas Miski, and another pass assisted former Gold Coast striker Kruise Leeming in crossing for a 10-6 lead.
Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary opened the scoring after his own punt was mishandled by Miski, and No.1 Dylan Edwards put them ahead at halftime with a dazzling run from close range that found a gap in the Wigan defence.
Along with his last-gasp effort, May had the best chance to steal the win late with a sizzling line break, only for a brilliant cover tackle from Wigan No.1 Jai Field to drag him into touch.
Penrith finished without winger Sunia Turuva, who landed awkwardly on his knee after jumping to try and save a kick from going dead.
