Andrew Abdo has responded to claims from Phil Gould that the decision to ban Penrith trainer Corey Bocking until the finals for running in front of a kicker lining up a shot for goal was “influenced by social media” and instead pointing out the club’s history.

The NRL issued a breach notice to the Panthers on Monday and fined the club $50,000, stating the severity of the sanction was due to the club also being penalised earlier in the season for a separate issue with one of its trainers.

Penrith trainer Shane Elford and North Queensland’s Mitch Dunn were hit with one-match bans for squirting water on the ball earlier this year.

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It continues a troubling history of Penrith trainers embroiled in on-field controversy.

Two-time premiership winner Andrew Johns laughed the trainer’s actions off as gamesmanship, while ex-NSW coach Brad Fittler suggested the Titans should have been given a second shot in front of the posts.

Speaking on Nine’s 100% Footy, Bulldogs GM of football Phil Gould called the NRL’s reaction to the incident “the greatest beat up I’ve ever seen in rugby league.”

“This is a perfect example that officialdom can be influenced by social media and what the fans say,” Gould said.

“Fans were blowing up long before anyone in rugby league had even worried about it. Give me a break. Do you think it’s fair those previous indiscretions come into it?

“The trainers are out there doing a job. They sometimes get in the way. If he’s not putting water on the ball, he’s not doing his job.”

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Those comments from Gould were put to NRL chief executive Abdo, who shut down the suggestions the heavy sanction was due to the influence of social media.

“It’s important to note there have been six separate incidents involving Penrith Panthers trainers since 2021,” he told media at the Indigenous Round launch on Tuesday.

“While we treat every incident on its own merits, taking into account the fact there have been several indiscretions by trainers from that club, it was important for us to take the action that we’ve taken. This is a simple rule and that rule has been broken.

“This is not a reaction to social media or to the public, this is an application of the rules which we have done consistently. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I can say categorically that this is not a reaction to the public or to social media.

“This is an application of the rules.”

Penrith said on Monday: “The club is adamant that the actions of the trainer were an honest mistake and there was no intent to breach the rules or gain an advantage. The trainer immediately apologised upon realising the error.

“The circumstances involved a late change and in-the-moment confusion, but we understand that does not excuse the outcome.”

The club has five days to respond to the breach notice.

Abdo was also asked whether a rule change would be considered if such an event was to occur in the future, allowing the kicker to take their conversion attempt from in front.

“Luckily, this is a very unusual circumstance, one which we don’t often see and one which we hope not to see again,” he said.

“At the end of the season, we’ll have a look at all the on-field rules as we do.

“We’ll hear feedback from our key stakeholders, the clubs and the players and make any considerations around changes that we think are necessary.

“At this particular point in time, there’s no particular view on changing anything.”