"I was angry": Panthers coach accuses Eels player of milking last-minute penalty following his side's dramatic win
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has slammed Parramatta centre Waqa Blake, accusing him of diving for a last-minute penalty in his side’s dramatic 13-12 win over the Eels.
A 79th minute clutch field goal to Panthers playmaker Matt Burton forced a short restart from the Eels, who kicked towards Blake in a final desperate bid to win back possession.
A penalty was then drawn for interference after Blake ran into Panthers back-rower Liam Martin, leaving commentator Mat Thompson to remark “Can you believe it?”
“Martin got in his way (but) he made a good job Waqa of playing for it,” Phil Gould said on Nine.
Eels half-back Mitchell Moses missed his sideline conversion attempt though, and despite escaping with a one-point win coach Cleary admitted he was “angry” over the decision.
“I just think it’s another example of our game encouraging playing for penalties,” Cleary said in his post-match press conference.
“That’s how I saw it (and) that’s how I felt at the time, (but) I felt a bit better after the kick.”
Cleary continued to vent his frustrations towards Blake, a former Panther, arguing Blake made no real effort to get the ball at all.
“(Martin) was heading back towards the ball, Waqa was nowhere near the ball and he made no effort to try and get to it, that’s how I saw it,” Cleary added.
“I feel like in our game it’s encouraged, so if any players are watching tonight then they might try and do it as well.”
Cleary’s Panthers did well to survive without his star half-back and son Nathan Cleary, and look forward to another bye next week.