Newcastle Knights beat Penrith Panthers 32-14 in NRL round 19

WAYNE Bennett calls it the try that, just like that Dallas book depository bullet, defies all laws of physics.

WAYNE Bennett calls it the try that, just like that Dallas book depository bullet, defies all laws of physics.

"His hand was on the sideline," Bennett said when asked about that four-pointer to Penrith winger Dean Whare.

"That's clear evidence it wasn't a try.

"His body weight was going down and there's no way he’s taken a hand off the ground and then replaced it there. You can't do that . . . it just doesn't happen."

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And yet apparently, it did.

Which is why, as sure as Monday headlines follow Sunday afternoon footy, the NRL video referees are again under pressure following another afternoon of controversy - this time by retired players Luke Phillips and Justin Morgan.

While 18 points would eventually separate the sides, Bennett was both "surprised" and "disappointed" by what he believed were a pair of incorrect green light rulings on an afternoon when Penrith only scored two.

While Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was also upset - questioning why no action was taken on an incident that saw his lock Adam Docker suffer a suspected cheekbone fracture - the real heat fell on the men upstairs after Whare’s hand appeared to be touching the sideline when he crossed.

Bennett also questioned the Panthers' second try, scored by Clint Newton within two minutes of fulltime, when forward Cameron Ciraldo looked to have dropped the Steeden in his attempt to grubber ahead.

Both tries were initially awarded by the on-field referee, meaning the men upstairs had to find conclusive proof to deny them.

"I was disappointed in both the tries . . . I didn’t think their first one was a try and I didn’t think their last one was a try," the Knights coach said.

"The disappointing part is that the games are so keenly fought and contested and the (video referees) have got hindsight. It’s not a decision that has to be made out there.

Craig Gower

"They go back to replays on it and, while I know there’s often a fine line between it all, I didn’t think there was a fine line between them today.

"Even with the (Ciraldo) kick, I’ve got no doubt in my mind he missed the ball. If you’ve seen enough football in your life, you know when they kick it and when they don’t. I thought the benefit of the doubt had gone so it obviously hasn’t gone. Not in their minds anyway."

Asked if the refereeing had gone backwards since their summer overhaul, he continued:  "My point is the game's are so tightly contested and you just expect them to get those things right because they've got the replay, they've got hindsight they can watch it five, six times."

Cleary, meanwhile, was also disappointed that while two of his players, Lewis Brown and Mose Masoe, were placed on report for tackles on Knights forward Robbie Rochow, no action was taken when prop Kade Snowden appeared to collect Docker with "a fairly dubious knee".

Whare

"We had two on report because their guy carrying the ball stayed down," Cleary fumed. "Then our man Adam Docker stayed down having made a tackle, but the play went on. He’s got a fractured cheekbone and there was no repercussion for it . . . I’m not happy about that."

NEWCASTLE 32 (A Uate 2 D Boyd N Costigan C Gower K Snowden tries T Roberts 4 goals) bt PENRITH 14 (C Newton D Whare tries L Walsh 3 goals) at Centrebet Stadium. Referee: Adam Devcich, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 10,240.