'Outrageous': Benji Marshall unloads over costly refereeing decisions as Tigers lick wounds

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall unloaded over two refereeing decisions that cost his side dearly in its 18-14 loss to Penrith, labelling one of the calls "outrageous" and imploring the official to let the players decide the game.

Marshall was particularly scathing after the Sunday game of Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski's decision to penalise halfback Jarome Luai for a tackle he made on Penrith kicker Blaize Talagi.

Luai's 54th-minute tackle was neither late nor high, but the referee clearly didn't agree with the former Panther knocking Talagi to ground during the motion of his kick.

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Nathan Cleary slotted a penalty goal to give Penrith a 12-10 lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, Luai was again penalised when the referee deemed he'd obstructed Liam Martin as the Penrith back-rower chased a Cleary bomb.

Thomas Jenkins completed a hat-trick in the fresh set of six Penrith received, before Cleary converted to extend the Panthers' lead to 18-10.

"The game's so hard and demanding, and I actually feel sorry for our players because they didn't actually get to decide [the game] tonight," Marshall said in his press conference.

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"The first one on Jarome, on [the] last making a tackle — I thought it was outrageous, that decision.

"And the second one, he got done for an escort, which I thought was bad too, and then they scored on the back of that set.

"Just let them decide, let them play.

"The game's actually hard enough."

Marshall stressed the importance of looking after the kicker — as a playmaker himself during his stellar 349-game NRL career, he dealt with relentless defensive pressure while kicking — but the Tigers coach was adamant the referee was wrong on this occasion.

"I agree with them protecting the kicker, but he didn't take his legs out, he didn't put him in a dangerous position, it was simultaneous when he kicked it, and he made contact there [to Talagi's side]," Marshall said.

"Like, that's not a penalty. And I'm all for protecting kickers; don't get me wrong. I thought it was the wrong call, and I thought it actually cost us.

"Anyway, I've had my rant."

Asked if he would be in contact with the NRL to discuss the penalties, Marshall was quick to reply.

"Absolutely," he said.

The referee's decision to penalise Luai for his tackle on Talagi was slammed by Nine experts Phil Gould and Andrew Johns, both of whom branded the call "ridiculous".

Luai blew up at the referee over that decision, but was tight-lipped when prodded in the press conference.

"You could sort of see from my reaction what my thoughts were," Luai grinned.

"I think the ref gave me the explanation that it was a bit careless.

"I understand the rules, and in that moment I understood what I was doing."

Marshall butted in.

"He's saying he doesn't want to make any comments," the coach quipped, drawing laughter from Luai and reporters.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary gave a tongue-in-cheek reply when told Marshall was furious with the first Luai penalty.

"Was he unhappy about that?" Cleary said.

"I would have liked seven yardage penalties; we only got one."

The Panthers conceded seven penalties across the game and the Tigers six.

Marshall described the Tigers' game as "one of our best performances of the year".

"I honestly thought we were the better side," he added.

The Tigers now have a win-loss record of 5-8 and are placed 14th on the ladder.

They are now set for a bye and will then host the ladder-leading Raiders in Campbelltown in round 16.