‘What are we doing?’: NRL engulfed by second crunch time trainer incident in eight days

Eight days after arguably one of the most controversial rugby league incidents ever involving a trainer, the NRL hi-vis army are in the headlines again.

Last week, it was a Panthers trainer running in front of a goalkicker. This weekend, a North Queensland trainer accidentally disrupted general play, causing a stoppage.

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During Sunday night’s Eels-Cowboys clash, with the game tied at 18 late in the second half, the Cowboys trainer caused time to be called off by referee Liam Kennedy when he was struck by an errand pass.

With the Cowboys deep in their own end, a ball thrown by Cowboys winger Braidon Burns went behind Zac Laybutt and hit the trainer, with Laybutt diving on the ball.

Eels flyer Josh Addo-Carr was in the area, with Parramatta contesting that Addo-Carr’s chance of potentially diving on the loose pass was thwarted when the ball hit the trainer.

Kennedy couldn’t do much else but to allow the Cowboys to continue their set where Laybutt dived on the ball and was tackled.

“Ball has hit the trainer. That’s trainergate,” Michael Ennis said.

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“Seriously, is there any need for the trainer to be out there so early in a set,” Andrew Voss added.

“What are we doing. Peter V’landys, you have work to do.”

The incident was discussed post-game on Sunday Night with Matty Johns

“We’ve had another one. When it rains it pours,” Johns quipped.

“That’s a six to eight weeker,” Nathan Hindmarsh joked, referencing Penrith trainer Corey Bocking’s five-game suspension last week.