NRL Bunker sends Panthers through as Sea Eagles bow out

COACH Trent Barrett demanded referees boss Tony Archer explain the call that ended Manly’s season to his gutted players.

Tyrone May runs at Tom Trbojevic during a scintillating finals match.

• PLAYER RATINGS: Panthers v Sea Eagles

• ANALYSIS: Where Panthers v Sea Eagles was won and lost

• CONTROVERSY: ‘I swear black and blue it touched his hand’

SHATTERED Manly coach Trent Barrett has slammed the video review process and fears the “crazy” system could cost a team this year’s premiership.

In a drama-charged night of elimination footy, underdogs Penrith moved to within striking distance of an impossible grand final berth after a controversial video-referee decision crushed Manly’s season at Allianz Stadum last night.

High praise for the Panthers tenacity to now book an elimination final clash with Brisbane on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium will be overtaken by debate surrounding two “incorrect” decisions by the match officials, according to Barrett.

Barrett was livid after a 48th minute video referee no-try ruling against Dylan Walker for offside and a try awarded to Penrith’s Tyrone Peachey with scores locked at 10-10-all with seven minutes remaining, ended their season.

The NRL bunker deemed Peachey had scored, following a Bryce Cartwright kick, despite doubt over whether he had knocked the ball-on.

“I didn’t touch it, I promise. Check the snickometer,” Peachey said.

Tyrone Peachey’s controversial try proved the difference for the Panthers.

However, Barrett was adament the decision was wrong and even demanded referees boss Tony Archer explain the call that ended Manly’s season to his gutted players.

“To have our season ended by two video referee calls in my opinion which were incorrect, is extremely hard to take,” Barrett said.

“How they can say, they are a 100 per cent that is a try (to Peachey) is beyond me.

“What I would like is the bunker and Tony Archer and the referees to go into my shed and explain to my players, that their season is now finished on the back of those two calls.

“There’s a massive problem with the system. Because if that last one is no try, which they should’ve done, they can’t overturn it - it’s crazy and it’s cost us our season.

“I hope that a grand final isn’t decided like that. It would be a bloody shame.

“The referee is better off putting his hands in the air and saying ‘I’ve got no idea - so let’s have a look at it’ rather than influence the decision of the bunker with no-try or try.

“It (Cartwright’s kick of the football) went off a foot, into a leg, into a chest on to a hand - they (referees) must have good eyes.”

Manly players were left bewildered by some of the decisions.

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans said he was certain Peachey touched the ball, which had ricocheted off his chest.

“I thought I had a pretty good view of that and I swear black and blue it touched his hand,” Cherry-Evans said.

“It’s going to be disappointing to walk away having the game come down to that.’’

Even Penrith coach Anthony Griffin conceded there was doubt over the review process, admitting,”you’re always worried when it goes to the bunker.

“That’s not any disrespect to anyone - but you’re in the lap of the gods. Luckily, he ruled try so they couldn’t take it off him (Peachey).”

Penrith’s against the odds victory showed that there’s life with or without their sidelined captain Matt Moylan and that any angst towards Griffin has been shelved, for at least the month of September.

Martin Taupau is tackled during the bizarre finals clash which had a bit of everything.

The Panthers’ season-saving victory has also ensured Griffin is now set for a grudge match with the Broncos - the same club that sacked him at the end of the 2014 season.

Unlike Manly’s 28-12 ambush of the Panthers suffered last weekend, the Sea Eagles were beaten at their own game by a Penrith side determined to prove what they’re really made of.

“We all felt like we’d let ourselves down. We knew from the first training session it was going to be different tonight,’’ Griffin said.

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Bryce Cartwright celebrates after scoring a try.

Cartwright pinched the only try of the first half for Penrith, having collected a clever kick from Cleary, close to the line.

It highlighted the Panthers desperation to beat Manly to every punch. It was tough, gritty and showed how this team of rising stars from the foot of the mountains decided to mature in just seven days.

Halfback Nathan Cleary tormented the Sea Eagles back three with his kicking-game. He wasn’t perfect, but he handled the occasion.

Tom Trbojevic was everywhere for the Sea Eagles but it wasn’t enough in the end.

The Sea Eagles will wake on Sunday morning shattered. Shattered by the video referee’s decision and gutted to arrive at Mad Monday.

Publicly, they will speak about a season of steps taken forward, maturity and over-achieving.

And that’s fair enough too.

Nobody gave them a chance this season — highlighted by their premiership price of $67 after round three.

But with a ticket to the second week of the finals being dangled before them with under 10-minutes remaining, the pain will stay with them through summer.

PENRITH 22 (B Cartwright 2 T Peachey tries N Cleary 5 goals) bt MANLY 10 (L Brown D Walker tries M Wright goal) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Gee