Panthers star in hot water over bizarre ref clash

Panthers prima Jarome Luai could perchance miss the State of Origin opener done suspension aft a bizarre incidental involving a touchline referee.

The incidental occurred successful the archetypal fractional of the Panthers' 15-4 triumph implicit the Broncos astatine Suncorp Stadium instantly aft the team's opening effort scored by Sunia Turuva.

As the Panthers players acceptable upon Turuva to celebrate, Luai appeared to propulsion the referee successful the backmost with his close manus arsenic helium came successful to celebrate, earlier realising his mistake and tapping the referee with his near manus to seemingly apologise afterwards.

AS IT HAPPENED: Panthers down Broncos successful heavyweight clash

READ MORE: Legends puzzled arsenic Bunker denies aggregate tries

READ MORE: Bizarre Kyrgios wounded down Roland-Garros withdrawal

The authoritative did not instrumentality kindly to the Panthers five-eighth's act, shooting him a baffled look successful instrumentality earlier Luai was pulled distant by teammate Tyrone Peachey.

The touchline referee looked unimpressed arsenic Jarome Luai touched him with his near manus aft the Panthers' opener (Nine)

With Penrith having a bye adjacent week, a one-match suspension would mean Luai is incapable to play the State of Origin opener if helium is selected successful the NSW Blues squad by manager Brad Fittler.

Luai's enactment caused Broncos icon Sam Thaiday to callback a akin incident that took spot during his storied career, 1 that resulted successful a ban.

"I got suspended for that," Thaiday said connected Nine's NRL coverage.

"Off a scrum, I grabbed the umpire's garment trying to explicate that helium was holding maine successful the scrum against the Melbourne Storm here, and I got a week's suspension for that.

Jarome Luai ran for 106 metres and recorded a effort assistance successful the triumph implicit the Broncos (Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)

"You're not allowed to interaction a referee."

Fellow Maroons greats Johnathan Thurston and Paul Vautin were some baffled by the 26-year-old's act.

"What was helium trying to do?" Vautin asked.

"Was helium trying to propulsion him retired of the mode oregon pat him to speech to him?"

"Watch his close limb there, it's consecutive into the backmost (of the touchline referee) ... past the apology," Thurston added.

Turuva opens scoring for Penrith

"Then he's trying to get his attraction astir something. It doesn't look bully from that angle."

Despite the contention surrounding the incident, Nine's sideline newsman Danika Mason said the referees would not lodge a ailment with the NRL against Luai.

Panthers manager Ivan Cleary downplayed the incidental aft the match, saying, "I don't deliberation there's overmuch successful there", portion Nathan Cleary confirmed Luai had apologised to the official.

"Romey (Luai) mentioned it to maine consecutive aft the game, helium said helium didn't realise it was the touchy and past apologised consecutive after," the Panthers co-captain said.

Luai is nary certainty to clasp his No.6 jersey, with Sharks prima Nicho Hynes the different contender to enactment up successful the halves alongside Cleary. 

The Panthers five-eighth ran for 106 metres and recorded a effort assistance successful the triumph implicit the Broncos, and impressed Cleary successful the process.

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 unrecorded and escaped connected 9Now

"Hopefully I get picked arsenic well," the Panthers prima joked.

"I deliberation he's been truly awesome the past fewer weeks. There's been a batch of speech astir him but he's blocked it out.

"He's conscionable done his champion occupation for the squad and taken a batch of ownership arsenic well. He's a large dependable connected the tract and you've truly heard him the past fewer weeks."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!