The NRL is a billion- dollar sport being run by a bunch of amateurs, writes Phil Rothfield

BUZZ: YOU’D think the NRL would have learnt a lesson from last year’s finals series when the Cowboys were robbed by a seven-tackle try.

YOU’D think the NRL would have learnt a lesson from last year’s finals series when the Cowboys were robbed by a seven-tackle try to Beau Ryan.

Or when the clock broke down in the final moments and no one had a clue how much time was left.

Seriously, this is a billion- dollar sport being run by a bunch of amateurs.

‘THAT’S NOT A TRY, THAT’S A MIRACLE’

NRL ADMITS REFEREE WAS WRONG

News_Image_File: Touch and go. The moment the ball was played and the siren sounded.

The NRL hired Todd Greenberg, allegedly the best CEO in the business, to get its football department in order.

If anything, it has gone backwards. The draw/schedule is a mess and unfair and the standard of refereeing poor.

Now we’ve seen St George Illawarra robbed of victory against the Storm on Monday night — and it’s not the first time it has happened this year.

Tigers skipper Robbie Farah blew up at match officials after Manly were allowed a try after the halftime siren at Leichhardt Oval.

News_Rich_Media: Injured Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah has criticised the performances of NRL referees this season following the wrong decision to award Melbourne Storm a try after the siren last night.

A week before, the Warriors were also allowed to play the ball after the siren in a game against the Tigers in Wellington, from which they also scored.

Again, officials are ignoring the technology they have to prevent incidents like this.

With so much riding on the final Storm try, I can’t believe referee Matt Cecchin didn’t at least go to the video box.

Even if he was 99.9 per cent sure, it was worth checking.

News_Rich_Media: NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent has criticised the NRL for failing to rectify referee errors prior to last night's match in which the Melbourne Storm scored a try after the siren.

KENT: WHY CAN’T THE NRL RUN LIKE CLOCK-WORK

Video refs can rule on offsides, groundings, high tackles, knock-ons and everything bar forward passes.

Why couldn’t they have checked back to the play-the-ball to find out what the NRL match review committee did yesterday, that it should never have happened because it was after the siren?

Yes, it was less than a second. Yes, we all make mistakes. But that’s not good enough.

We need a system to ensure no other side is dudded in the same manner as the Dragons.