Andrew Johns' response says it all after Knights cruelled by contentious late call
With the Knights leading 15-14, Boyd sprayed his attempt to level the score at 15-15 and missed. But the Warriors challenged the call in what appeared to be complete desperation. The Warriors felt Hastings might have contacted Boyd's legs - or the ball - which would have been a penalty or line drop-out either way.
But the Bunker official found that Hastings wasn't square at marker when he raced out to pressure Boyd's kick. The Warriors were awarded a penalty, and even though Boyd missed the ensuing shot at goal, they still got the ball back in prime field position.
The Knights managed to block another field-goal attempt from Boyd, but the ensuing ricochet went straight to Leka Halasima, who raced away to score a stunning try for the win. Even though Boyd missed the penalty goal, Knights fans were still fuming because it meant the Warriors had possession from the ensuing 20m drop-out.
Knights fans fume over Jackson Hastings penalty
Many felt Hastings was hard done-by because Chanel Harris-Tavita walked off the mark when he played the ball - making it appear as though Hastings wasn't square. However the crucial replays seemed to show the Knights player was only slightly to the side of the ruck - but enough to break the rules.
Speaking in commentary for Channel 9, Phil Gould said it was "terrible" for the Knights. And Newcastle legend Johns had a very telling reaction.
Joey let out an exasperated sigh when the Bunker official said Hastings wasn't square, but refused to say anything else. He instead threw down to Brad Fittler on the sideline, who said Knights fans weren't happy.
It's hard to show in a still shot.This is half a second later.Hastings hasn't moved his left foot, CHT just steps directly forward while playing the ball and you can clearly see CHT's left foot is to the right of Hastings left foot which means he isn't square, he is to the left pic.twitter.com/e12JMn1vs9
— 🏆🏆 UNRIVALLED 🏆🏆 (@pennypanthers22) July 20, 2025
So if you move while playing the ball you can take out the markers and make em not square, Hastings is square before Harris gets too his feet just for Harris too move while playing the ball to take him out pic.twitter.com/uTRaVPQtbs
— ComaBoyss (@ComaBoyss) July 20, 2025
I mean fair enough Hastings was never square, but we see that all the time with pressure on field goals #NRLKnightsWarriors
— JC (@jJ_craney23) July 20, 2025
The fact that Johns didn't criticise the decision could be seen as agreeing with it. But it might have been a case of him refusing to speak in protest. He did the same thing in Round 8 when he refused to speak for the final 23 minutes of a game between Cronulla and the Tigers.
On that occasion, Johns became so fed-up with a spate of players being sent to the sin-bin for high contact that he launched a silent protest. The NRL eventually softened it's stance after cracking down on contact with the head.
Andrew Johns bemoans rules around kickers
Earlier on Sunday, Johns was happy to express his disdain with how "protected" kickers have become in the modern game. On Saturday night, Manly beat the Melbourne Storm thanks to a penalty awarded to the Sea Eagles for Harry Grant making contact with Luke Brooks' kicking leg on a field-goal attempt.
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The ruling was completely correct, but Johns felt it showed that kickers have been given way too much freedom under modern rules. "It's gone way too far, but to the letter of the law it's a penalty," Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show.
"Say you defend a really good set, and you get the opposition to play the ball on their 30. In years gone by if it was a slow play-the-ball the kicker would have to be back 10 to 15 metres, which means you would get the ball and bring it back to your 40.
"Nowadays if you get a bad attacking set and slow play-the-ball, the kicker stands on the advantage line and kicks it 60 metres because they know they can't get hit. They should be able to get out and tackle the kicker above the waist."
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