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NRL in the firing line over 'ridiculous' Sharks-Titans jersey debacle

The confusing detail left NRL viewers shocked and dismayed during round 24.

adam lucius
Contributor
·3-min read
These images show the similarly coloured jerseys worn by the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla Sharks in round 24 of the NRL.
The similarly coloured jerseys worn by the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla Sharks had many viewers confused in round 24 of the NRL. Pic: Getty/AAP

It appears blame for the wardrobe malfunction that confused commentators and irritated fans watching the Cronulla-Gold Coast clash can be laid at the feet of the NRL – not the two clubs. The Sharks deviated from their traditional strip to wear a one-off design that looked very similar to the Titans' jumper during their important 36-6 win at PointsBet Stadium on Friday night.

The two strips bled into each other, making it hard for supporters and commentators to differentiate between the teams. Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane said during the call: "Interesting jerseys here. There might be a bit of a clash. Seriously, how do we have jerseys that look so close together?"

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ABC Radio caller Quentin Hull tweeted: "There are a million different playing strips in the NRL and they are making us look at this blue rise mess?? P.s Titans have a white away strip which makes it more ludicrous."

NRL fans hit out over jersey debacle

His face plant emoji summed up the feelings of most fans. They jumped on the NRL's social media platforms to vent over the mix-up.

"Why is it so difficult for the NRL to understand that 2 teams wearing similar colours makes for a substandard viewing experience? It's been an issue raised before. Should be basic to sort it," one fan wrote on Facebook. Another one added: "Why are both teams wearing the same kit. Is the NRL colour blind? Ridiculous."

NRL has the final say on jerseys in the event of a clash

So, how could such a simple but embarrassing mistake be made? It seems the two clubs are blameless, leaving the NRL firmly in the gun.

One club official familiar with the procedure around jersey choice told Yahoo Sport Australia: "The home team submits what jersey they will wear for each game.

Seen here, the Sharks and Titans clashing in round 24 of the NRL.
The Sharks and Titans were wearing near-identical jerseys. Pic: Getty

"Usually, the onus is on the away team (to change if necessary), but they are dictated to by the NRL. They usually knock you back when the jerseys are too close and make you play in an alternate strip."

It appears the NRL didn’t foresee the jersey clash and green-lighted Cronulla's new-look jumper instead of ordering Gold Coast to bring their alternate strip to Sydney.

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