Referees boss Tony Archer has admitted the on-field officials got a crucial call wrong during the Roosters' win over the Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
The Bulldogs were trailing by two points and mounting a second-half fightback, when in the 71st minute of the match a touch judge overruled lead referee Gerard Sutton, saying Roosters fullback Michael Gordon hadn't played at a kick.
Replays showed that Gordon clearly stuck his foot out in an attempt to play at a kick from Bulldogs winger Brett Morris before he regathered it.
Instead of awarding the homeside another set of six on the Roosters tryline, the referee’s called a turnover with Archer admitting the on-field officials made the wrong call.
"In the 71st minute of the Bulldogs and Roosters game, you can see the referee awarded a handover to the Roosters. After having the opportunity to review the play, the referee on-field should have awarded six more as the ball was played at by Michael Gordon,” Archer said following the game.
Further explanation of the handover decision in the 71st minute of #NRLBulldogsRoosters.#NRL pic.twitter.com/c3GPkuVwOP
— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) May 21, 2017
