The Warriors' return to Mt Smart Stadium was far from ideal, and Andrew Webster was quick to voice his dissatisfaction with the referee's performance. Webster's frustration stems from two shot-clock penalties within five minutes, which he believes were unjustly called. The first incident involved a dropout, where Chanel Harris-Tevita was penalized for being slow to get the ball away, despite his claim that the countdown timer on the stadium screen was not accurate. Webster sarcastically points out that the referee's slow warning left Harris-Tevita with insufficient time to communicate with his team, suggesting a re-do or a play-on call would have been more professional. This incident, coupled with a similar penalty on Marata Niukore, sparked outrage from the home team and the crowd. Webster's commentary highlights the rarity of such frequent shot-clock penalties and questions the referee's judgment. Despite the Warriors' frustration, Webster acknowledges the Sharks' skill and performance, praising both teams' efforts. The game's outcome was decided by a thrilling back-and-forth battle, with the Sharks ultimately winning 10-8. Webster's analysis underscores the importance of accurate timing and the referee's role in maintaining fairness, leaving a lasting impact on the game's perception.
