By Paul Mulvaney, ChCh NZ
I’m reaching out to you today not just as someone who has the privilege of reporting on all sports across the country, but first and foremost as a born West Coaster and a massive rugby league fan sharing this raw frustration with you.
Like so many of you, Sunday night left me absolutely gutted. My sister Mary and her husband Wayne (Life Members) have stuck by this Warriors club through thick and thin, through every single up and down over the years. Loyal fans like them, and all of us, deserve a fair shake.
What happened last night, after thousands of people packed out the pre-game fan zones and flooded into that record-shattering home crowd of 48,511 at Eden Park-was a complete disgrace and an incredibly hard pill to swallow. The officials did our team, those incredible fans including Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā wai hono i te pō, The Kīngitanga and NZMRL formal Delegation: from the Kīngitanga movement and NZRL and NZ Māori Rugby League officials, who coordinated the spectacular Kiwitanga cultural pre-game welcome and stirring haka that took place as the team arrived: Sir Peter Leitch (The “Mad Butcher and official NZRL Patron; Stacey Jones (Asst coach): happy children and the whole of New Zealand dirty. To have an atmosphere and a moment that historic ruined by shocking refereeing decisions is incredibly hard to swallow.
Our communities, our families, and our code deserve so much better than what we were given.
At the very least, that blatant escort penalty in the 79th minute should have been blown. No question. It was right in front of the posts, and they should have been kicking for Golden Point. They still might have lost, but still it meets fair standards.
To have a historic brilliant season end because the refs put their whistles away when it mattered most is a joke. And a stolen opportunity!.
However, they couldn’t cope with the pressures of final footy, like say the Crusaders here have for a long time and both the Dolphins and now the Knights showed why they get another chance.
I’ve been listening to the aftermath in the media where league experts and commentators, even a former top referee are entirely on the Warriors’ side regarding how badly they were dudded.
I’m impressed with coach Andrew Webster’s ability to demand accountability from officials while completely owning his team’s performance shows the hallmarks of a world-class, selfless leader.
From the opening here, the passion of the West Coast and the wider New Zealand rugby league community is exactly what keeps the club going through these agonizing moments.
Up the Wahs, always keep the faith, and hopefully, next season brings the rub of the green that this team and its loyal faithful have truly earned.
But man, our entire Wahs whānau has every right to be furious on Sunday.
Cheers
Paul
