Annesley: Axing every match official not the answer

NRL head of football Graham Annesley has pleaded for compassion instead of knee-jerk reactions towards the game's match officials after confirming three incorrect decisions which cost two clubs tries over the weekend.

The Titans were hit hardest with a try denied and conceded in their loss to the Cowboys when, on review, both decisions have now been confirmed as incorrect.

The other blunder to come out of the round also came on Friday night with NRL touch judge Kasey Badger incorrectly raising her flag to rule Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr out as he was regaining his feet to play the ball.

Possession was awarded to the Sharks, who went on to score their first try of the evening through Sione Katoa two minutes later.

Under the NRL rules, players are entitled to put their feet outside the field of play when attempting to stand and play the ball.

Annesley put the error in judgement down to a reactionary measure, while indicating an overturn by other match officials in the moment could have occurred but made for a messy situation. 

"The touch judge shouldn't have reacted to that, it should have been ignored and he should have been able to play the ball," Annesley said.

"In the next set the Sharks scored a try, a big decision and a big impact but an incorrect decision. I haven't spoken directly to Craig Bellamy [but] I've had some contact with the Storm.

"People sometimes under pressure make errors, it's as simple as that. I'm not excusing it, it's a mistake that shouldn't have been made but there's a lot happening on the field … players are under pressure, officials are under pressure and sometimes it causes you to make errors.

"That's in no way trying to justify, it's not the rules officials are unaware of."

Annesley said while match officials were being held accountable each week for making errors, the simple notion of axing an individual for every incorrect call would leave the code searching for depth in the refereeing ranks.

"We've already had a few incidents this year where match officials have suffered the consequences as a result of decisions they've made and there have been reasons for that," Annesley said.

"No one goes out there trying to make errors - 99% of decisions they make are correct. The one thing we can't do is simply drop the axe on officials every time they make an error.

"It won't be long before we won't have any officials. It has to be looked at the context of the entire game and the context of the mistake, their form leading up to the match and particular errors."

Annesley confirmed the Titans were denied two calls in their favour following a review into their 28-14 loss to North Queensland.

The Titans were denied a try to Tyrone Peachey in the first half with Phillip Sami judged to have taken out Cowboys hooker Jake Granville in the run chase.

"On video review they ruled Sami push Granville but it's pretty clear on this footage that contact was initiated by Granville, who threw his arm across in front of Sami and Sami pushed him away," Annesley said.

"Under laws of the game any player not in possession of the ball can't be interfered with. Did Granville have the right to throw his arm in front of Sami? No. Did Sami have the right to push Granville away? No he didn't, but the first contact was made by Granville.

"On reviewing this we believe that try should have been awarded."

The decision was further compounded for the club in the second half when the Cowboys were awarded a try to John Asiata that wasn't referred to the NRL Bunker despite a hint of obstruction.

Annesley confirmed the play should have been referred and it should have been overturned.

He has reached out to Titans coach Garth Brennan to discuss the incidents.