NRL head of football Graham Annesley admits the Manly Sea Eagles were robbed of victory against the Parramatta Eels on Saturday night.
The Eels were clinging to a 19-16 lead in the closing minute of the match when the Sea Eagles were denied a late try to winger Reuben Garrick after a touch judge ruled a Tom Trbojevic pass floated forward.
Upon further review, Annesley confirmed on Fox Sports that the "call was incorrect", as the Eels moved to the top of the NRL standings with their first 4-0 start to a season in 31 years.
In a game of two halves, the Sea Eagles' fightback from 18-2 to down early in the second half set up a thrilling finish, but didn't get the rub of the green when it mattered most.
"To be truthful we shouldn't have been in that position coming down to our last play," said Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler.
"We didn't get much rub of the green tonight. That goes with referee calls on the sideline as well now."
The Eels dominated the first half as wing Maika Sivo set up two tries with Michael Jennings and young Kiwi Dylan Brown scoring to take a 12-2 lead into the break.
Parramatta continued where they left off, with Kane Evans crashing over early in the second.
But Manly clawed their way back, Jorge Taufua and Dylan Walker both scoring in quick succession to make it an 18-12 game.
In the final 10 minutes Mitchell Moses kicked a field goal to make it a seven-point game, and it proved to be a vital one-pointer as Taufua barged over out wide once more with just two minutes to play.
Then in the closing stages, the Sea Eagles thought they'd snatched victory when Garrick crossed, but it wasn't meant to be.
"I thought I threw it back," Trbojevic told Fox Sports after the match.
"I didn't get to see too much of it. You get those ones, disappointing one but that's footy I guess."
The Eels face the Penrith Panthers in a top of the table clash next weekend, while the Sea Eagles square off against the struggling Broncos.
