NZ Warriors halfback Blake Green has taken aim at the referees after Adam Blair was sin-binned in their clash with the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night.
With 13 minutes remaining and leading 18-0, the Warriors were controversially reduced to 12 men as Blair was sin-binned for obstructing Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu in a try-scoring opportunity.
Lead referee Ben Cummins decided to let the bunker review the play, and concluded that Blair should spend 10 minutes off the field.
The decision angered the Warriors, especially Green, whose extraordinary spray was picked up by Cummins' microphone.
"All this bulls*** they throw at us. Just kick us out of the comp, man. Don't even worry about it. There's plenty of Australian teams."
With the one-man advantage the Sea Eagles mounted a huge comeback, scoring three tries to get within two points, before a try to Warriors hooker Jazz Tevaga in the 77th minute sealed a 24-16 win.
The win snapped a record-equalling six-game losing streak for the Warriors at Mt Smart, and it was their first win at their home ground since April 5.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said he will have to have a few words to Green about his comments.
"I'm going to have to talk to Blake about that one," Kearney said.
"To be honest, it's been unprecedented in terms of what they had to endure leading into last weekend's game, post the Eels match.
"I don't want to say anymore on that. We're just hashing up old stuff. It's in the past and we'll just focus on what's in front of us."
Blair's wife Jess was also asked about the sin-binning on Twitter, and she said; "it wouldn't happen to anyone else" and "he looked shocked".
Overall Kearney was just relieved that the sin-binning didn't cost the Warriors the match, especially after a dominant first half.
"It could have been really costly. I don't know where Adam is supposed to go. He's entitled to turn back and go for the ball himself, so I don't know what he's supposed to do.
"Off the back of the penalty count, that was always going to be an issue, but I didn't think it was a penalty.
"Adam turns around to chase the kick and someone runs into the back of him and falls over.
"They looked long and hard to find it, and they did. To be honest, I've had enough of talking about that stuff, but I think I heard a coach last week make a comment about officials having the feel for the game."
The win was the Warriors' eighth of the season and lifts them to 11th for now, as they can still drop back to 12 if the Newcastle Knights beat the Parramatta Eels on Saturday.
They're also two points outside the NRL's top eight with four tough games remaining.
The Warriors are back in action next Sunday, when they face the defending champion Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Newshub.
Join us for live updates at 4pm on Sunday August 18 for live updates of the Warriors' NRL clash agains the Sydney Roosters
