Refs got it right in Penrith match: Archer

NRL referees boss Tony Archer says the two most contentious calls in Penrith's controversial 16-8 win over Manly were the right ones.

Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett

Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett was left incensed by the penalty count against his team. (AAP)

NRL referees boss Tony Archer insists his officials got it right with two controversial calls in Penrith's 16-8 win over Manly on Saturday.

Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett was seething post-match, suggesting the decisions, and a 14-4 penalty count, cost them any opportunity to win.

Archer will complete a full review of the match with the officials on Monday but has cleared two contentious calls either side of halftime.

In a crucial play before the break, Panthers winger Dallin Watene Zelezniak admitted after the game he snatched the ball from teammate Waqa Blake's hands as he collected a kick to score.

At the time, he was in front of Blake, meaning if it was ruled the centre caught the ball first, it would've been a knock on.

But Archer backed the bunker's decision, claiming the catch between the two to be "simultaneous".

"I've reviewed all the angles and it appears they take possession of the ball simultaneously," Archer told AAP.

"In no circumstances would I expect (the bunker) to overturn the live decision of try and I'm comfortable with the aspect of grounding."

Archer also said referees Henry Perenara and Chris James were right to penalise Tom Trbojevic in the 56th minute, after a ball was passed into him from dummy-half following a tackle.

It led to a Penrith penalty goal, but was at odds with a decision not to penalise the Sydney Roosters in Friday night's win over South Sydney, when Robbie Farah passed a ball into tackler Jake Friend.

"He should have been penalised as well," Archer said.

"If a player is in an offside position and he interferes with the play, and breaks down play in those circumstances, I expect the referee to penalise in those incidents.

"At that point in time Tom Trbojevic was offside."

Barrett's post-match press conference is open to review from the NRL on Monday, but it's understood it would be unlikely to court a fine.

When asked if he will seek clarification from Archer, Barrett said: "What do you say? I've never seen anything like it. Ever."

The 14-4 penalty count was the most lopsided of the season in any game so far.

"We played in circumstances where we couldn't win when some of the things that went against us," Barrett said.


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Source: AAP



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