Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has become the latest to take exception with the NRL match officials.
After South Sydney Rabbitohs boss followed his side's season-ending loss to the Newcastle Knights on Friday night with a call to abolish the bunker entirely, Robinson suggested things didn't go quite as expected on Sunday evening in his side's loss to the Penrith Panthers.
The loss puts the Roosters on a collision course with the Cronulla Sharks in a sudden death semi-final next weekend, but the head coach suggested there were issues on Sunday.
While he agreed that the try which Hugo Savala scored and was overruled on a double movement was correct, the veteran coach was less than impressed that there wasn't a penalty awarded for high contact or a crusher in scoring the try - and the replays indicated the Roosters had more than a small case to make on that front.
“A double movement, definitely, but there were high shots from people falling constantly,” Robinson said during his post-match press conference.
“He got hit and crushed it on the back of the neck. I don't understand that one.
“The double movement definitely - his arm hit and then he did reach out. But contact to the head in that position. There were quite a few against us for that reason.”
“I've never heard incidental crusher is still a crusher. That's not words that I've heard.
“I think incidental contact but that doesn't matter if you crusher someone.”
Robinson also said there were multiple issues with high shots during the game in a contest that saw plenty of penalties and even more errors.
“I think the one on Jenkins on Billy's [Billy Smith] knee that didn't hit and then we had two sliding ones,” Robinson added.
“I think in the context of the game, I think that was a penalty in front.”
Robinson was impressed with his side's effort during the game, but admitted they failed to execute in crucial situations.
The Panthers win puts them straight through to the preliminary finals, while the Roosters will have to do things the hard way, and, should they get past the Sharks, will travel north to play the Dolphins in a grand final qualifier who beat the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland on Saturday.
