The New Zealand Warriors lost 26-22 to the Parramatta Eels on Friday night at GoMedia Stadium in Auckland, hurting their chances of finishing in the NRL’s top four.
A late try by Adam Pompey was first awarded but then overturned by the video bunker, creating controversy. Warriors coach Andrew Webster, however, said his team’s mistakes were to blame for the defeat.
The dramatic moment came in the 76th minute when Pompey scooped up a loose ball and crossed the line. Referee Peter Gough signalled a try, but bunker official Chris Butler ruled that forward Demetric Vaimauga had knocked the ball forward before Pompey scored. Television replays were unclear, but Vaimauga later admitted he touched the ball, confirming the decision.
The Warriors entered the match knowing they needed two straight wins to guarantee a top-four finish. Now, with just one game left against Manly, they must rely on other results. Brisbane and Cronulla, who both have stronger records, remain ahead in the race.
Coach Webster said he wasn’t focused on the “what-ifs” of the ladder. “It doesn’t matter, wherever we finish is where we’ll finish,” he explained, though he admitted the loss was avoidable.
For Parramatta, the victory continued a strong run late in the season. Tries from Josh Addo-Carr and Jack Williams gave them an early lead, while Isaiah Iongi and Leka Halasima each scored twice in the second half.
