In handing down fines and suspensions, the NRL normally applies rules that are black and white - but in testing the spirit of the game on Friday night - Manly and South Sydney entered a realm which is all grey.
Players and officials from both sides face a nervous night waiting to discover whether they will be sanctioned by the league, with Rabbitohs prop Jeff Lima and Manly coach Geoff Toovey the men squarely in the firing line.
Sea Eagles back-rower Justin Horo will also come under scrutiny for a high tackle which felled Greg Inglis, though debate over that incident has settled firmly on whether the Rabbitohs star took a dive to earn his side a penalty.
Toovey may escape what many thought would be a mandatory $10,000 fine for his post-match rant, given the Sea Eagles mentor never questioned the integrity of the officials.
He labelled the Steve Matai no-try "ridiculous" and questioned whether the two whistleblowers were the best the game had to offer, but the impartiality of the referees was not seemingly an issue.
Rather, Toovey could be fined for commenting on an incident that was put on report - when he intimated Lima's leg twist on Anthony Watmough may have been a deliberate act given the Manly back-rower had made an earlier than expected return from a hyper-extended knee.
Coaches are not permitted to discuss incidents placed on report.
In normal circumstances, Lima's twisting action may have gone unnoticed, but given Watmough's history and the likelihood - according to Toovey - that he could be sidelined as a result of the action, the former Kiwi Test prop could be hit with a charge by the NRL match review committee.
Former Brisbane and Test hard man Gordon Tallis called for Lima to be hit with a stiff penalty - labelling it a worse offence than the squirrel grip that cost Sam Burgess a two-game ban.
Ex-players were also aggrieved following the hit which left Inglis on the ground, with Horo unlikely to cop a ban as a result.
Speaking on the Nine Network's The Footy Show, former Test captain Brad Fittler was adamant Inglis stayed down to attract a penalty "because the fact is all the players are doing it.
"As soon as they're getting touched around the head, they're all staying down," he said.
Fellow panellist Peter Sterling admitted it was impossible to judge whether a player was seriously hurt or not, but added: "It saddens me to think that many, many years ago, it was a badge of honour to not show that you were hurt.
"I would hate to think our game is deteriorating to the stage where players will stay down.
"I'm not saying Greg Inglis stayed down here at all, because you can't go into the intent of a player."
