The wetting of the ball incident that is the talk of the NRL shows the difference between the Panthers of 2021-2-3-4 and the Penrith team of today.
The incident itself – in which amateur footage shows Panthers trainer Shane Elford spraying water on the ball to make it harder for the Cowboys to handle a kick off (watch the video above) – is very minor on the scale of controversies.
But it is not in the spirit of the game and shows how desperate the Panthers have become to end their run of outs this season.
The Panthers are expected to cop a please explain letter from the NRL and a fine over the incident.
And all clubs will be sent a memo stating that (1) trainers are not to touch the ball during games and (2) no one is to alter the surface of the ball in any way.
It’s not ball tampering in the fashion of the infamous Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2018 that rocked the nation, but it is ‘not cricket’ as they say in the sports world.
The Panthers of 2021-2-3-4 would not have bothered with such a trivial ploy in an attempt to win games.
They would have gone out there, worn down the opposition and taken home the two points.
But this Penrith team is a very different beast. Rival clubs have finally taken away their star power by signing player after player thanks to the salary cap.
After 10 rounds, they have just three wins and are sitting second last on the ladder.
And the fact they should stoop to such a sneaky ploy is the biggest worry of all for Panthers fans.
Explosive twist in ball tampering controversy as Cowboys caught out
The North Queensland Cowboys find themselves in the spotlight as the NRL’s ball-tampering controversy takes a dramatic turn.
The NRL’s ball tampering controversy has taken a fresh turn with the North Queensland Cowboys being caught out.
The footage came to light on Monday afternoon in the wake of Penrith’s trainer being sprung spraying the ball with liquid from a water bottle before the opening period of golden point.
Viral footage showed the Steeden was left dripping wet after Shane Elford twice sprayed the ball before handing it to fullback Dylan Edwards to kick-off.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten told Code Sports his coaching staff noticed Elford doing the same thing throughout the match.
After being handed the ball by referee Todd Smith, Dunn turns and appears to spray the ball with a water bottle before handing it off.
Dunn however was busted by Smith who yelled at the trainer for what he had just done.
“Hang on, hang on, no, no, no, no, no, nup, nup, give me the ball. You’re not doing that. No way, get another footy, another football,” Smith says.
“He squirted it with water.”
The irritated referee then kicks the ball to the sidelines before requesting a new ball to get the second period of golden point underway.
“I need a ball,” Smith reiterated. “He squirted the ball with water. C’mon.”
News.com.au has contacted the Cowboys regarding the footage.
The twist comes after Penrith’s trainer copped plenty of criticism with Fox League commentator Andrew Voss saying trainers shouldn’t be anywhere near the ball.
“Trainers, don’t touch our balls,” Voss said on SEN’s Vossy & Brandy show.
“Under no circumstance should trainers be touching the balls. It’s a bit odd and it’s a really quick fix.”
Voss asked: “When the ball is caught by the player, is any of the water still on the ball after it’s flown through the air?”
Panthers legend and board member Greg Alexander replied: “I’m going to say not much (water).”
Voss added: “Maybe its more of an act of stupidity than cheating? The science of it might actually dismiss it as an act of futility that achieves absolutely nothing.
“I think he (Elford) should be fined.”
Alexander agreed: “It doesn’t look good.”
Saturday night’s incidents are now expected to be scrutinised by NRL officials with CODE Sports stating “it is likely the NRL will fire out an edict this week reminding trainers that they cannot tamper with the football”.