In the aftermath of the highly dramatic 30-all draw between the Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys, attention has turned to an incident involving Panthers trainer Shane Elford.
Footage from the sidelines shows Elford deliberately wetting the game ball with a water bottle before his side kicked-off.
WATCH: Penrith trainer Shane Elford caught on camera deliberately wetting the ball before golden point kick-offs vs the Cowboys. NRL is investigating, with Todd Payten confirming: “He did it before every kickoff.” Elford appeared to hide the act while handing the slippery ball pic.twitter.com/BxsMtwnOTA
— NRLCentral (@nrlcentrall) May 11, 2025
The emergence of video evidence has gained scrutiny from the fans and been brought to the attention of the NRL.
Neither the club or league officials have made a statement regarding the incident, or the potential sanctions that Elford could face.
The 47-year-old played 178 first grade games for both the Panthers and Tigers in the outside backs.
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Previously, he had been called out for his antics as a trainer in other high-stakes games since taking up the role at the Panthers.
In the first week of the 2022 finals, Elford was seen having an altercation with then-Eels star Reed Mahoney.
Now this latest controversy adds to the list of questionable moments linked to Elford's tenure, with his actions in Townsville appearing to have crossed the line.
The incident reignites an ongoing debate about the presence and influence of trainers on the field during play.