Rugby League: New Zealand Warriors block Jazz Tevaga denounces controversial NRL refereeing

As the Warriors’ season draws to a close, blocking Jazz Tevaga has given an abrupt assessment of refereeing in the NRL.

The Warriors were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend with their loss to the Cronulla Sharks, ending what would have been a storybook run to the final.

But in a season where there were so many obstacles to overcome for the Warriors, Tevaga said it wasn’t something that stopped when players ran onto the field.

The Warriors have been on the wrong side of some bad decisions this season, some of which proved costly in their run to the playoffs.

Tevaga was at the center of an incident, where he was controversially sent to the sin bin in the Warriors’ loss to the Parramatta Eels two weeks ago in round 17. The Eels scored two attempts in the 10 minutes he was out of the park and beat the warriors 24-18.

After the Warriors’ 16-12 loss to the Gold Coast Titans in the ninth round, interim head coach Todd Payten was officially informed that four decisions made against his team in the game were incorrect, including one disallowed attempt. to lend to pillar Jack Hetherington.

Payten has been blunt about poor refereeing in the competition throughout the season, even going as far as to say that he is embarrassed by the sport as, even with a lot of technology at his disposal, a lot of wrong calls are still being made.

Tevaga added his thoughts on the situation this week and said it always felt like the umpires were against the Warriors.

“It seems like it’s always the case with us; to me, it always seems 13 to 14. Same old story, we have to move on,” Tevaga said.

“There is nothing we can do. We cannot change the past.”

The Warriors will play their penultimate game of the 2020 season on Sunday against the Canberra Raiders, who are assured of a playoff spot but can still push for a place in the top four.

But while the Warriors team that has been based in Australia since late May can now count down the days until they can return home to New Zealand, Tevaga was assured that there would be no complacency in their remaining performances as they still they had a lot to do. play for.

“We still have to play for each other. You can lose races to these kinds of games and not push yourself.

“I think everyone is going to play hard, especially for Tom Ale. He deserves his debut and I’m sure all the boys will be looking forward to it.

Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Adam Pompey, Adam Keighran, Peta Hiku, Hayze Perham, Kodi Nikorima, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Lachlan Burr, Karl Lawton, Isaiah Papali’i, Jack Murchie, Tohu Harris, Jazz Tevaga. Exchange: Wayde Egan, Adam Blair, Tom Ale, Josh Curran, Paul Turner, Gerard Beale (two will be omitted).