New video shows what really happened before NRL referee says sorry

Extraordinary new video has revealed what really happened in the moment a Cowboys star gave an NRL referee a lesson on the rules.

Chad Townsend's conversation with Gerard Sutton

New vision of Cowboys star Chad Townsend has revealed exactly what went down during a bizarre incident that left referee Gerard Sutton red faced during the clash with Manly on Friday night.

In the 37th minute Daly Cherry-Evans appeared to pass the ball forward to Kieran Foran with the ball ricocheting off the Cowboys.

Referee Sutton awarded the scrum to Manly, however, multiple Cowboys players called for a captain’s challenge prompting Sutton to signal to the bunker to take a look at it.

Townsend, who was mic’d up for Fox League’s Benji, immediately interjected.

Full vision of the incident aired on Monday night.

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“Who, who called that sir? The captain calls it, I didn’t call it, I didn’t speak to you,” a mic’d up Townsend challenges.

“I’m telling It has to come from the captain sir, that is the call, that is the rule, it comes from the captain that is the rule.

“I had three guys calling it there mate and I thought you were one of them,” Sutton said.

“Mate a thought is not how it works, you come to me, you ask me or Jason (Taumalolo).

“I thought it was,” Sutton replied before signalling to the Bunker.

“Sorry Bucky (Butler), Chad has not called it, other blokes have called it,” Sutton said to the Bunker referee, heard on Fox League’s coverage.

Vision then switches to Townsend speaking to his team about the mix up.

“It comes through me or Jason and he didn’t call it.

“He thinks it come through you.”

Townsend was his animated best during the Cowboys’ stunning come from behind 28-26 win.

The Cowboys got off to a slow start, with both Christian Tuipulotu and Reuben Garrick scoring early Manly tries.

But that didn’t dampen Townsend’s spirit, who sensed the momentum would change when his side got their hands on the ball consistently.

“What we do now is narrow our focus, two minutes, defend one and complete one,” Townsend said as his teammates replied “yep” in unison.

“Boys they have had all the ball, I am telling you stick with it we will get our fair share of the ball.”

The Cowboys found themselves trailing 26-12 with only eight minutes remaining and tries to Reece Robson and Connely Lemuelu brought the score back to within two points.

But in a moment young gun Jeremiah Nanai would like to forget, the ball went straight through his hands and hit the ground.

“Get up mate let’s go, next job all right let’s go, we have got you, we have got you, jog it in let’s go,” Townsend said to Nanai after the mistake.

Maroons gun Valentine Holmes went on the score a last gasp four-pointer to hand the Cowboys a two-point lead, but for Townsend his job wasn’t over.

In the last minute the Sea Eagles were awarded a penalty, kicking the ball into touch for one last play.

Townsend sensed what was happening before any of his teammates and was captured saying “two point field goal, two point field goal”.

The marquee recruit was then the first man in line to attempt to charge down Cherry-Evans field goal attempt, before screaming in relief once the final siren sounded.

“Oh my god, I love this game, oh my god man,” Townsend said.

Originally published as New video shows what really happened before NRL referee says sorry