The New Zealand Warriors have been knocked out of the NRL finals in straight sets after suffering a two-point loss to the Newcastle Knights.
At the conclusion of the match, Warriors supporters were seen engaging in inappropriate behaviour towards match officials.
The Newcastle Knights have progressed into the preliminary finals, but it's clear there were a handful of controversial refereeing calls helping them across the line.
After the final siren, match officials were greeted with projectiles being thrown at them as they were walking off the field. They were also met with loud booing as the Warriors fans voiced their dissatisfaction with the game.
New Zealand Warriors legend Shaun Johnson defended the officiating of the game during a Sky Sport NZ post-match panel and said the actions were unacceptable.
"It leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth,” Johnson said on air.
“Ashley Klein probably reffed the best game I've seen in a long time tonight. He didn't take any gamesmanship in terms of people laying down, he didn't let people approach him whinging, he didn't make the game about him.
"There's just no need for it, it's just embarrassing."
The second half was plagued with contentious calls going the way of the Knights, with at least two decisions representing a possible opportunity for the Warriors to either win or tie the game.
In the final minute, a kick was placed close to the Knights' tryline and Warriors centre Leka Halasima appeared to be escorted off the ball by Newcastle prop Tyson Frizell.
If the Warriors were granted a penalty for the action, a penalty goal could have been kicked, tying the game and potentially setting up extra time and golden point.
Warriors head coach Andrew Webster detailed his frustration during his post-match interview as his side's 2026 campaign came to an end.
“I thought they were trying to find ways to take it off us,” Webster said.
"[Frizell] was going across Leka [Halasima] pretending to try and catch the ball, which they've told us you can't do.
“But at the end of the day, you make your own luck in this game, we had enough opportunities to win that game.”
Another call Warriors supporters would not have been happy with was the penalty blown against halfback Te Maire Martin as he looked to have stripped the ball from Knights winger Greg Marzhew.
This occurred with five minutes to go in the match and was first deemed a penalty; however, following a Warriors captain's challenge, Martin did not appear to rake at the ball at all and was just bumped off in physical contact.
NRL Bunker officials eventually ruled a strip, and the Knights were given a penalty to take them down the field.
Post-match, Te Maire Martin told nathanlimm he believed it was the wrong call.
"To be honest, there was no intention of stripping it," Martin said via Instagram.
"I got bumped off, I don't know how you get bumped off and try and strip it at the same time.
"You're kind of at that level [of the match], you know you're not to strip there, it's not really what you need and give them an easy leg out."
The Newcastle Knights head into their preliminary final against minor premiers Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
