The Penrith Panthers have been hit with a record $50,000 fine by the NRL after trainer Corey Bocking ran in front of Gold Coast Titans halfback Jayden Campbell during a conversion attempt on Saturday. Bocking has also been suspended for five matches.
The incident occurred with less than seven minutes remaining in the match, when Campbell was preparing to kick a conversion that would have put the Titans four points ahead. Campbell missed the kick, and Penrith went on to win 30-26 after a Nathan Cleary drop goal forced golden point.
The NRL issued a breach notice on Monday, alleging Bocking 'unnecessarily interfered with and distracted' Campbell, in breach of the NRL operations manual and code of conduct. The proposed penalty takes into account previous breaches by Panthers trainers, including a one-week ban for another trainer in May for squirting a ball with water.
Penrith defended Bocking, calling it an 'honest mistake' caused by a late interchange change. The club has five days to respond but said Bocking immediately apologised. Coach Ivan Cleary described it as 'wrong place, wrong time', while Titans coach Des Hasler said the incident probably did not cost his side the game.
If the club accepts the breach notice, Bocking will miss the remainder of the regular season as Penrith chase a top-four finish and a fifth consecutive premiership.
