How a controversial hand gesture divided opinion in the NRL

The 'khawd' given by Wests Tigers players that attracted a storm of attention can be interpreted as anything from 'an ugly sign of hatred' to 'just a bit of banter'

The NRL showed leniency on Wednesday by letting off Wests Tigers players with a warning after they used a gesture offensive to some Lebanese-Australian communities in Sunday's victory over Canterbury-Bankstown. But the sanction is unlikely to satisfy everyone given the range of responses elicited, from those outraged to others who believe the act was "just a bit of banter".

Celebrating a second-half try to seal an upset Tigers' win against the high-flying Bulldogs in pouring rain at Parramatta, backrower Samuela Fainu made a hand gesture known as "the khawd", and his teammates quickly joined in.