Referees boss Tony Archer was on hand at Brookvale Oval when a couple of key decisions went against Melbourne in a narrow loss to Manly, saying both decisions would be reviewed but in the case of the one that was referred to the video referee he was "happy with the process".
Manly hold off fast-finishing Melbourne
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In what proved to be an incredibly tight finish, a number of close try and no-try rulings proved crucial.
What looked like a try to Storm winger Young Tonumaipea was not awarded or referred upstairs, with the on-field officials ruling Tonumaipea had knocked on in the lead-up while replays suggested Manly winger Cheyse Blair may have been the only one to touch the ball before Tonumaipea grounded it.
Storm interchange prop Tim Glasby was denied when the video referee upheld an on-field call of 'no try' for a double movement, confirming Glasby had driven forward with his legs in order to complete the try. The Fox Sports commentators were of the view momentum had continued enough to award the try but the decision was anything but clear cut.
A 'no try' to Storm five-eighth Blake Green was also overturned by the video referee when it became clear Green had grounded the ball on the line.
"At this stage I don't know [if the Tonumaipea decision was correct], I've got to go back and review that. I've only seen the live vision and something on the big screen," Archer said after the game.
"I've only seen the live vision. That's something that I'll review, every game, which we do – we'll do that overnight and I'll be in a better position to comment on that.
"He [on-field referee Jared Maxwell] made a decision live which we expect him to do but obviously without the benefit of me sitting down and going through it, I don't know yet.
"It's hard for me to speculate on it until I sit down and review it."
Archer said the double movement call against Glasby went through a different process because it did go to the video referee.
"He started with a no try, obviously in relation to that, the ball hit the ground short of the line and the video referee's ruled that [Glasby] drove off his leg and that put him in the in-goal. And also he started with a no-try.
"I was very happy with the process. We review all video referee decisions and we'll go through it but based on the process that happened, the live decision and what I saw on the big screen I was comfortable with the process."
Asked if referees were encouraged to make decisions without the aid of video replays in order to speed up the game, Archer said: "I want referees to make decisions if they're confident and in the position to make decisions."
