T ?

[Adam]

I'm not sure I would have told him to back off (I'm assuming you wouldn't use the word "rookie" when talking to the coach) my partner. If he's not doing anything directly T-worthy, I'll let my partner make his own decisions. The final situation in the OP, however, begs for a T and it needs to be called.

By not calling it, the partner would have established himself as unsure and easily controlled. Coming in to get it prevents that, IMO.