Defiant Hauser Insists He Has A Point To Prove After False Start Controversy

Defiant Matt Hauser insisted his recovery from an incorrect penalty proves he is ready to win the Super League Triathlon 2022 Championship Series.

The Australian was second out of the water of the Stage 1 swim in the Series opener in London, but lost a lot of ground as he was held in transition until the last swimmer was through after being penalised for a false start, which later turned out to be that of his SLT Eagles teammate Jamie Riddle.

Hauser produced a remarkable comeback, destroying the opposition in Stage 2 to end up finishing the race in second place behind Hayden Wilde, and believes his resilience proves he will be a factor in the race for the Overall Leaderboard which resumes in Munich this weekend.

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He said: “I am looking forward to starting on an even playing field and seeing what I can do in Munich. It’s been a great season for me so far and I have been really looking forward to Super League.

“I have a point to prove. I am not here just to win the swim jersey as I did last year. I am here to challenge for the overall.”

Of the false start, he added: “All that hard work in the swim went to nothing. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Jamie false started and thought ‘oh bugger, mate’ and then I quickly got on his feet. And I thought he was copping a five second penalty but he got me in a good position.

“When I got to the bike and Tommo told me I had a five second penalty after the last person I thought ‘you are kidding me, that was Jamie.’ There’s nothing you can do and Jamie apologised but there’s nothing you can do.

“It got my adrenaline going and my heart pumping and I got back into it for the last leg. I was more relieved than anything going into it so that didn’t help things and then Hayden ran away with it, but what can you do?”

Hauser situation was helped by the SLT Eagles being able to hand him a Short Chute. “It’s good for the sport,” said Hauser, who this year had no choice but to take it on the first lap of the final run.

“You don’t want one and two chasing for a sprint finish and then the Short Chute wrecks it, so you have to use it for your advantage, go on the attack and leave it all out there. I did that and Hayden went over the top of me, so now on to Munich.”