Brad Arthur disappointed by refereeing error, Tom Trbojevic mistake proves costly

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was furious after a crucial refereeing error proved costly in the Eels’ 32-18 loss to Manly. The referee’s mistake led to Will Penisini being sent to the penalty box for a professional foul on Tom Trbojevic of Manly while the game was on the line.

In the middle of the second half, Luke Brooks, five round of 16 He sent a kick over the Parramatta line and into open space for the speedy full-back to chase. Just as it looked like the Sea Eagles sprinter was going to collect the ball and score, he was brought down without the ball in a desperate attempt by the Eels centre.

Penisini was later sent off for the foul as Reuben Garrick converted a penalty to extend Manly’s lead to six points in the 57th minute. However, replays clearly showed Trbojevic was in front of Brooks when he kicked the ball, meaning the Manly player was offside and should have been penalised.

Had the correct decision been made, the outcome could have been very different, as the penalty would have given the Eels a full complement to attack the Manly line. They would also have had a full complement. After the match, Arthur highlighted the error as a “big moment” that changed the course of the game.

“I think there were some tough decisions,” Arthur said. “Will Penisini got a ten-minute penalty. I thought the chaser was maybe offside. It’s a big moment in the game.”

Maiko Sivo’s memory loss ends Parramatta’s comeback chances

The Eels managed to contain Manly when they were reduced to 12 men after Penisini’s yellow card, even scoring a goal through Maika Sivo in the 66th minute to reduce the deficit to just two points. But then the Winger’s brain shattered with 11 minutes left excluded any possibility of return.

After tackling Garrick, Sivo inexcusably decided to elbow him in the head. It was so obvious that the Parramatta players let out audible groans when Gerard Sutton blew his whistle and, after watching the replay, took Sivo into custody and sent him to the penalty box. At that point, there were 11 minutes left and the Eels were trailing 20-18, but after his yellow card, Manly attacked the team where they would have been defending had they not made a costly mistake and scored two easy tries to seal the win. And his brain-blow left Arthur furious.

“It’s stupid, isn’t it?” Arthur said after the game. “It’s 20-18. We’re up four tries to three. There’s 11 minutes left. We tackle the fourth, they kick us and hopefully we get the ball back.”

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Eels captain Clint Gutherson couldn’t hide his frustration. “It was just stupid,” he said.

“We were in the game. 10 minutes left, we just got Will back. Last tackle, catch the ball. We gave ourselves a chance. The stupidity of the moment really hurt us. Just missed tackles, penalties against us. You can’t do that in NRL games, no matter who you’re playing.”