By Peter Jessup
National Rugby League referees' boss Mick Stone has accepted some of the Warriors' complaints that they were wronged by whistler Paul Simpkins in the 24-28 loss to Canterbury.
Stone rejected other points the club raised but showed his concern by offering coach Mark Graham a one-on-one meeting with Simpkins.
Graham had asked that Simpkins, who has been in charge of three of the Warriors' five away games this season, not be appointed to their games again.
The Auckland club has sent Stone a list of areas where it feels its side were disadvantaged and will back this up with a video as it continues a push for consistency of rulings.
Graham reviewed a videotape of the game and took issue with the 9-2 penalty count against his side, reckoning that if he had refereed the game, the penalty count would have been 15-9 to the Warriors.
Among points highlighted from the NRLs "eagle-cam" video taken from on top of the Stadium Australia stand.-
* Terry Hermansson was penalised for holding a Canterbury player down for four-and-a-half seconds after a tackle, yet there were five occasions when Warriors were held down for more than six seconds yet no penalty was given.
* Canterbury players are repeatedly in front of the kicker at restarts.
* There was a short 10m throughout.
The NRL yesterday agreed to a Warriors' request for an extension to the usual five-day time-frame allowed coaches or management to explain actions considered contrary to the game in respect of Graham Lowe's comments about Simpkins.
Lowe is expected in Auckland for the Parramatta game this weekend and the club board will meet to discuss its next move to put up a case against the NRL's stated intention to fine the chairman.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue to re-sign prop Joe Vagana.
And the plan to send those players not chosen in the 17-man starting squad to the Queensland State Cup continues to gather momentum.
Their first start is likely to come with Wynnum-Manly and Brisbane Souths on Queen's Birthday weekend.
