Manly coach Trent Barrett not expecting explanation from NRL after Sea Eagles’ loss to Penrith

MANLY coach Trent Barrett isn’t expecting a call from NRL referees boss Tony Archer after the loss to Penrith, but knows what to expect if the phone does ring.

Jake Trbojevic makes his point to referee Adam Gee on Saturday night.

SHATTERED Manly coach Trent Barrett isn’t expecting a call from under-pressure referees boss Tony Archer, but knows what to expect if the phone does ring.

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“He will just try and justify the decisions,” Barrett said.

Barrett and his Sea Eagles were still seething on Sunday at several video refereeing decisions which favoured Penrith during Saturday night’s elimination final.

Jake Trbojevic makes his point to referee Adam Gee on Saturday night

Three decisive calls went against Manly as the controversial loss ended their season.

Barrett still hadn’t heard from Archer and was unsure whether he would.

“Probably not,” Barrett said.

“It doesn’t bother me because I know what he’ll say. He will just try and justify the decisions.

“I didn’t know what to say to the players after fulltime. They busted their arses to put themselves in a winning position.

“Then it was taken away from them by a poor decision (a Tyrone Peachey knock-in which led to a try). It is still surreal.

“I haven’t heard anyone with a different opinion.”

Manly players were gutted and few have seen such a devastated dressing room.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Peter Wallace seek an explanation.

“It was like a morgue — shattered,” Barrett said.

“You can always cop getting beaten fair and square and Penrith did play well.

“But to have it taken away from us in those circumstances is difficult to take.

“Defensively, I thought we were outstanding. To hang in there when they had 70 per cent of possession in the first 30 minutes of the game and not let them score.

“It was a huge effort. To be 10-all with four of five minutes to go after what we had been through was a huge effort.

“Then to have that happen through those decisions is pretty hard to cop.

“We will learn from it. There were things in that game that we can get better at.”

Penrith football general manager Phil Gould took to social media to praise his side.

Gould posted on Facebook: “Our Panthers have played in three of the last four finals series, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

“They have now won a semi-final in each of those years. The best part is that the best is still ahead of us.

“You may not be able to travel with us to Brisbane next weekend, but we will take you there in our hearts. We will do our best for you.”