‘Could have easily’: NRL admits Panthers nearly claimed 41-year first before golden point

NRL head of soccer Graham Annesley has revealed Penrith may have received Saturday evening’s golden level thriller in opposition to Newcastle in regulation time, admitting referee Peter Gough would have been inside his rights to award a uncommon three-point discipline purpose.

The Panthers have been trailing by one level within the 77th minute of the Round 7 conflict when captain Nathan Cleary efficiently booted a discipline purpose to even the scores at 15-15.

Cleary was taken out late by Knights ahead Lachlan Fitzgibbon as he booted the one-pointer, inflicting a melee that took a number of minutes to type out, however no penalty was blown.

The 25-year-old finally clinched victory in golden level with a 39-metre discipline purpose, breaking the hearts of all 26,084 Newcastle supporters McDonald Jones Stadium.

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Annesley condemned Fitzgibbon’s actions throughout his weekly soccer briefing on Monday afternoon, mentioning his “unnecessary” late hit may have value Newcastle the match.

“There is also a thing called the three-point field goal, if a player is fouled in the act of kicking a field goal,” Annesley mentioned.

“The contact here is not heavy, it’s not even serious in terms of foul play, but it could have easily bought a penalty.

“This game could have ended before it even went into extra time.

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“In another game in a similar situation, that could have been ruled a foul on a kicker after a field goal, and that could have resulted in a penalty kick right in front of the posts. Instead of your one point, you gets three points.

“It’s just an unnecessary action that risks a team losing the game … it didn’t have to happen.”

The competitors’s most up-to-date three-point discipline purpose occurred through the Round 18 contest between Norths and Newtown in 1982.