‘Complete farce’: Forward pass call costs Manly dearly in golden point thriller

South Sydney have pulled off a stunning tribute to John Sattler but it’s come amid some controversy after Manly were robbed a certain try.

The Sea Eagles weren't happy this was called forward. Photo: Fox Sports

South Sydney have paid tribute to favourite son John Sattler in the best way possible, pulling off a 13-12 golden point win over the Manly Sea Eagles.

At 12-all at full-time, Lachlan Ilias made the most of a Josh Aloiai mistake, allowing the youngster to slot the winning one pointer.

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Earlier, Latrell Mitchell took a horrible shot at a field goal but shanked it, as well as needing to scramble after a poor pass two tackles before the match winner.

But the Sea Eagles will be lamenting a costly call against them in the first half after being denied a near certain try.

The Souths’ Cody Walker opened the scoring, grounding the ball just inside the dead ball line before Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu hit straight back, snatching a bomb out of the sky to even it up.

But the Sea Eagles looked destined to score again minutes later after Brad Parker made a break down the left side of the field.

The centre passed it back inside to five-eighth Josh Schuster, who shovelled it on to Tom Trbojevic who was essentially over the line when referee Chris Sutton called a forward pass.

However, there was mass confusion on field and in the commentary box as even on replay, there was no forward pass detected.

It floated forward. Photo: Fox Sports

“Well that is a wonderful try that has been denied — and they are incensed the Eagles,” Ginnane said.

“At that no stage did I think there was a forward pass in that movement,” Alexander said.

“No, no, no. No way was that forward, what is wrong?

“At any stage during that movement did you think there was a forward pass,” Alexander asked Ginnane.

“No,” he said. “That’s a let off for Souths.”

To be fair to the referee, the ball did go probably 2m forward after leaving Parker’s hands, but the Sea Eagles centre was running at full speed and his hands appeared to be angled backwards.

The forward pass rule in rugby league allows for the ball to travel forward under momentum.

Former NSW halfback and premiership winner Jamie Soward tweeted: “forward pass……… really? I don’t think it was even close to forward.”

Daily Telegraph reporter Phil Rothfield also wrote: “Shocking forward pass decision. A complete farce”.

Freelance reporter Neil Morrow posted: “I like @SSFCRABBITOHS. But the terrible forward pass decision in the first half means it will grate a little if they win tonight. @SeaEagles have been the better side.”

Josh Schuster was fuming. Photo: Fox Sports

Asked about the moment after the match, Manly coach Anthony Seibold brushed off the drama.

“The referees and the touchies are closest to it,” he said. “It would have been great if it was awarded because it was actually some pretty decent footy. Some calls you get, some you don’t, I haven’t really got any thoughts.

“It was early in the game, we had more than enough time to create another opportunity.”

Plenty more fans were quick to criticise the result and calling for ball-tracking technology the NRL has been testing to be brought into the game.

The Sea Eagles did go into the break with a 12-6 lead after Daly Cherry-Evans scored on the buzzer with a long distance intercept.

A tight second half was broken up by Cody Walker’s second try, sending the match to golden point.