NRL Confirms Referee's Decision on Penalty After Golden-Point Field Goal

May 9, 2026, 06:18
AustraliaSports

Introduction

The National Rugby League (NRL) has officially confirmed that a referee made the correct decision to award a penalty goal after a successful golden-point field goal in a match between the Parramatta Eels and the North Queensland Cowboys.

Main Body

The incident happened during the golden-point period when Parramatta's Mitchell Moses scored a field goal. At the same time, North Queensland's Scott Drinkwater committed a foul by hitting Moses while he was kicking. Usually, a game ends immediately after a winning score in golden point; however, referee Liam Kennedy used specific rules regarding foul play during a drop goal attempt. As a result, the Eels were given a penalty kick from directly in front of the posts, which Ronald Volkman scored, leading to a final score of 33-30. This decision caused a lot of disagreement among players and experts. For instance, commentator Phil Gould argued that the match should have ended as soon as the field goal was scored. Despite these objections, the NRL's Head of Football, Graham Annesley, emphasized that the ruling followed the laws of the game. He explained that a team is entitled to a penalty if a foul occurs, regardless of whether the field goal was successful. Furthermore, he noted that if the initial kick had missed, the game would have ended immediately. In a separate matter, the Gold Coast Titans' coaching staff complained about a try awarded to the Sydney Roosters, claiming there was a knock-on. Coach Josh Hannay questioned the effectiveness of the video review process, but the NRL has delayed its comment until a full review is completed. Regarding the earlier incident, Scott Drinkwater was charged for his contact with Moses and chose to pay a $1,000 fine to avoid being suspended from future games.

Conclusion

The NRL stands by the referee's application of the rules, and the disciplinary issue involving Scott Drinkwater has been settled with a fine.

Learning

The Power of 'Regardless of' and 'Despite'

To move from A2 to B2, you need to stop using simple sentences like "He was sad but he worked" and start using Concessive Connectors. These allow you to show that two ideas contrast, even when one doesn't stop the other from happening.

⚡ The Logic Shift

In the text, we see: "...a team is entitled to a penalty if a foul occurs, regardless of whether the field goal was successful."

The B2 Secret: "Regardless of" is a powerhouse phrase. It tells the reader that the following information is irrelevant to the result.

  • A2 style: The kick was successful, but they still got a penalty.
  • B2 style: They got a penalty regardless of the kick's success.

🛠️ Application: 'Despite'

Look at this sentence: "Despite these objections, the NRL's Head of Football... emphasized that the ruling followed the laws."

While "But" connects two full sentences, "Despite" connects a noun/phrase to a result.

  • Wrong: Despite he was angry, he stayed. (Too many verbs!)
  • Right: Despite his anger, he stayed.
  • Right: Despite the objections, the decision stayed.

🚀 Quick Upgrade Guide

Instead of... (A2)Try this... (B2)
It doesn't matter if...Regardless of whether...
But / Although...Despite [Noun/Gerund]...
Even though...Notwithstanding... (Very formal!)

Pro Tip: Use Regardless of when you want to sound authoritative and firm, just like the NRL official in the article.

Vocabulary Learning

incident (n.)
an event or occurrence, especially one that is unusual or causes concern
Example:The incident during the golden-point period led to a heated debate among the players.
golden-point (n.)
a sudden-death period in rugby where the first team to score wins the match
Example:The golden-point period began when Mitchell Moses scored a field goal.
field goal (n.)
a type of score in rugby achieved by kicking the ball between the uprights during play
Example:Moses’s field goal was the decisive moment that triggered the referee’s ruling.
foul (n.)
an illegal act or violation of the rules in a sport
Example:Drinkwater committed a foul by hitting Moses while he was kicking.
referee (n.)
the official who enforces the rules during a sports match
Example:Referee Liam Kennedy decided to award a penalty after the incident.
penalty (n.)
a punishment that results in a free kick or score awarded to the opposing team
Example:The Eels were given a penalty kick from directly in front of the posts.
ruling (n.)
an official decision made by a referee or authority
Example:The NRL’s ruling was based on the laws of the game.
entitlement (n.)
the right or claim to something, such as a penalty or reward
Example:A team is entitled to a penalty if a foul occurs during a play.
disagreement (n.)
a lack of consensus or differing opinions about something
Example:The decision caused a lot of disagreement among players and experts.
commentator (n.)
a person who provides commentary or analysis during a broadcast
Example:Commentator Phil Gould argued that the match should have ended immediately.
effectiveness (n.)
the degree to which something achieves its intended result
Example:Coach Hannay questioned the effectiveness of the video review process.
charged (v.)
to officially accuse someone of an offense or to impose a penalty
Example:Drinkwater was charged for his contact with Moses and chose to pay a fine.
disciplinary (adj.)
relating to rules of conduct and the punishments for breaking them
Example:The disciplinary issue involving Drinkwater was settled with a fine.
suspended (adj.)
temporarily barred from participating in future games or events
Example:He chose to pay a fine to avoid being suspended from future games.
review (n.)
a careful examination or assessment of a situation or decision
Example:The NRL delayed its comment until a full review was completed.