LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was left seething after a crucial refereeing blunder proved costly in the Eels' 32-18 loss to Manly.
The official's mistake led to Will Penisini being sin-binned for a professional foul on Manly's Tom Trbojevic, in a game where the stakes were high and tensions were running hot.
In a pivotal moment during the second half, Manly five-eighth Luke Brooks executed a perfect kick over Parramatta's defence, setting up a sprint for the try line for the lightning-fast fullback, Trbojevic.
However, just as Trbojevic was closing in on the ball, he was unfairly brought down by a desperate Eels defender, resulting in the sin-binning of Penisini and a penalty goal for Manly.
But upon closer inspection through video replays, it became evident that Trbojevic was off-side when the kick was made, meaning the penalty should have gone in favor of the Eels instead.
This error had a significant impact on the outcome of the match, potentially altering the course of the game and leaving Arthur feeling hard done by.
Describing the incident as a "big moment" that shifted the momentum, Arthur was left frustrated by the missed call which had a direct impact on the result.
In the highly competitive world of Rugby League, where split-second decisions can make or break a team, every call matters and can be the difference between victory and defeat.