The NRL are understood to have backed referee Ashley Klein and bunker official Chris Butler over a pair of controversial decisions during the South Sydney Rabbitohs' season-ending elimination final loss to the Newcastle Knights on Friday evening in Sydney.
The two second half decisions saw the Rabbitohs come out on the wrong side of both.
In the first, Alex Johnston appeared to have had the ball raked out as he ran down the sideline, only for the bunker to determine it was a loose carry, handing possession back to the Knights and robbing the Rabbitohs of what would have been a thrilling try in a crucial stage of the match.
Some minutes later, Dominic Young was then ruled to have had his foot just inside the tryline in the build up to the try, with the bunker unable to find evidence to overturn the on-field decision.
The AAP are reporting the NRL have confirmed their review suggests both of the controversial decisions were correct, despite the comments of Wayne Bennett in the post-game where he blew the bunker up and suggested it had no place in the NRL.
"Well, the quicker they get rid of the bunker, the happier I'll be," Bennett said during his post-match press conference.
"I saw the same thing happen last year with Canberra late in the game there and it happened again tonight.
"I think anyone that plays rugby league or knows rugby league knows that [was knocked out of his hands]. The ball was knocked out of his [ hands.
"The referee awards a try, then the bunker comes in and says no try.
"Then about ten minutes later, Newcastle winger Dom Young goes down the sideline there. I'm not sure whether he put his foot on the line or not.
"The bottom line is, the bunker comes back and says we are going with the referees call.
"I want to know who is refereeing the game. Is it the bunker, or the referee? In the case of Alex Johnston one, he awards the try, and as I said, you can look at that 50 times and everyone can come up with a different opinion.
"It's just too technical."
The NRL did not comment, per the report, on the earlier decision where Dane Gagai was allowed to stay on the field after making closed fist contact with Latrell Mitchell.
