Wests Tigers controversy: Referees boss Bernie Sutton says Ashley Klein, Matt Noyen got penalty wrong

REFEREES Ashley Klein and Matt Noyen are under pressure to stay in first grade after their boss admitted the pair wrongly awarded a penalty which gifted Brisbane a golden-point victory.

Referee Ashley Klein explains the decision to Benji Marshall. Picture: Getty Images

• Wests Tigers lose 9-7 to Brisbane in controversial circumstances
• Benji Marshall rushed for scans after suffering an ankle injury

REFEREES Ashley Klein and Matt Noyen are under pressure to retain their first grade jobs after referees boss Bernie Sutton admitted the pair had wrongly awarded a penalty which gifted Brisbane a golden-point victory on Friday night.

Sutton confessed Wests Tigers backrower Robbie Rochow should not have been penalised after being ruled to have not been standing square at marker in the 86th minute.

The penalty allowed Brisbane winger Jamayne Isaako an easy penalty shot to give the Broncos a 9-7 win.

“Ultimately the penalty is incorrect,” Sutton said.

Brisbane celebrate as Ashley Klein signals for the penalty. Picture: Getty Images

Sutton said the way Broncos forward Joe Ofahengaue had played the ball contributed to Rochow being ruled to not have stood square by referee Ashley Klein. Klein and Matt Noyen conferred before the crucial penalty was awarded.

“There are a couple of factors which contribute to what happened,” Sutton said. “Ofahengaue plays the ball on a slight angle which is partly caused by Rochow.

“He moves forward and to the left to play the ball which accentuates Rochow (appearing to be off-side).

“Rochow doesn’t start square but he does adjust well.

“Both referees communicated through the process quite well. They both have some ownership around that decision. Ultimately it’s Ash who blows the whistle.

“I’ve spoken to both our guys last night and checked with them this morning.”

Klein talks to Benji Marshall while Joe Ofahengaue looks on. Picture: Getty Images

Sutton reached out to Tigers coach Ivan Cleary on Saturday morning. The focus will now shift to under-fire referees Klein and Noyen.

Sutton said he would review their positions early this week.

The new referee boss also had his doubts about a video referee try awarded to Canterbury fullback Moses Mbye to open the scoring in the Bulldogs’ win over Penrith.

Panthers five-eighth James Maloney was contacted by Will Hopoate in the lead-up to the try Steve Chiddy ruled Maloney still had a fair crack at stopping Mbye.

“There is some discretion which match review officials can apply,” Sutton said. “When there is contact with an outside shoulder of the defender and they score we need to be very careful around how much discretion is applied to it.”

Referee Matt Noyen could be headed for the sin bin himself. Picture: Getty Images

Sutton also backed his referees to continue their crackdown. Statistics revealed penalties for the first three rounds — before last night’s matches — were up almost 39 per cent compared to last year.

From the first 19 matches of the season 338 penalties were called, at a rate of 17.79 a game. Last season an average of 12.77 penalties were called a game.

Sutton reminded coaches last week heading into round three that the referees would continue to be vigilant on the ruck and off-side penalties.

“We haven’t changed the rules,” Sutton said. “We are simply applying what the rule actually is and it was a directive from the competition committee that we needed to enforce.

“I expect the boys to maintain the strong stance. They’ve been consistent on that. We will be continuing to drive it. What I expect will happen teams will understand what the line in the stand is.”

Originally published as Wests Tigers controversy: Referees boss Bernie Sutton says Ashley Klein, Matt Noyen got penalty wrong