The two controversial calls against star winger that cost Warriors the game

Sunday’s third straight loss for the New Zealand Warriors was not without drama.

Two crucial calls went against the side in their 14-8 defeat to the Newcastle Knights, the worst being a crucial penalty try that would have given them a half-time lead.

After a hapless opening 20 minutes where they gave away five penalties, made four errors and handed Newcastle an 8-0 lead, the Warriors got the game back to 8-6.

Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak then appeared to hand the Warriors the lead, only for him to drop a ball over the line while being tackled in mid-air by Greg Marzhew.

“Our game throws up some doozies sometimes and this is clearly one of them,” commentator Michael Ennis said.

“He’s tackled in the air and it’s not a penalty try. If he catches it, he scores no problem. Not sure how it’s not a penalty try.”

Shaun Johnson argued with referee Chris Butler that a penalty try should have been awarded, given Watene-Zelezniak seemed certain to score without the contact.

Butler agreed, but told Johnson it was against NRL interpretations for penalty tries to be given when players are tackled mid-air.

“The only reason he didn’t score is because he got tackled in the air,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster said after the game.

“I don’t understand if there’s a clause for that particular play if you’re attacking and tackled in the air, but it looked like he was deadset going to score for all money.

“I thought a penalty try is if someone is about to score, and they’re not allowed to through a penalty.”

The Warriors were then denied again after the break, Jackson Ford ruled to have obstructed Jackson Hastings in the lead up to a Watene-Zelezniak touchdown.