Why the Sydney Roosters think the refs cost them victory against Penrith despite trailing 24-0 at halftime

Trent Robinson is frustrated and believes match officials mishandled a crucial pass during the 30-10 defeat to Penrith that sent the Sydney Roosters into a semi-final.

The Roosters had reduced a 24-0 deficit to 14 points just after half-time in Friday night’s qualifying final when winger Daniel Tupou broke free on the left side of the BlueBet Stadium.

The ball went via the hands of James Tedesco to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who would have been free to advance to the tryline had referee Ash Klein not stopped play for a forward pass from Tupou.

Eight minutes later, Penrith’s second-row player Luke Garner scored the goal to put the Roosters out of the match and send the three-time reigning champions through to the preliminary round.

At the end of the match, Roosters coach Robinson was disappointed with what would have happened if his team had conceded a third unanswered try early in the second half.

“I didn’t think it was forward. I don’t think anyone thought it was forward, except the referee,” Robinson said.

‘If you look at the replays and the angles of the pass, it’s an important decision at that moment and you can’t do it wrong.

‘I was disappointed… it should have been a try and the score would have been 24-16, but then it starts to get exciting.’

The referee disallowed this pass from Daniel Tupou to James Tedesco, who was in an attacking move

Captain Tedesco, who had received the pass from Tupou, agreed to this.

“I didn’t think it was going forward. We probably would have scored and it would have been a different game,” Tedesco said.

But Tedesco was reluctant to make excuses for the Roosters after all four of Penrith’s first-half tries came as a result of a mistake, penalty or poor decision by the visitors.

“We can’t give them that much possession and ball control in a final because it’s difficult to overwhelm them,” he said.

“We have to perform for 80 minutes.”

However, many football fans disagreed that the decision cost the Roosters the game, arguing that the Panthers’ attack had already squandered their chances in the first half long before the decision to play a forward pass.

’22-0 after 20 minutes is why the Roosters lost… that’s embarrassing. No forward pass call,’ someone posted.

‘[Roosters half Luke] ‘Keary should have been given ten points for a professional foul,’ commented another.

‘They also didn’t give Penrith a penalty or a sin bin in the first half which should have taken the Roosters completely out of the game with the score already at 22-0,’ added another.

The Roosters will now face either Manly or the Bulldogs in an elimination final

Others defended the decision, saying Klein was right.

‘Which of the two was called forward? Because they were both looking forward from the stands,’ posted one Penrith fan.

“You came up to X to say that the referee called a forward pass a forward pass?” asked another football fan.

‘The referee was spot on. Too many “flat” passes in the game. Good to see it has picked up but again the consistency is lacking,’ added another.

The Roosters now prepare for a home final against the winners of Sunday’s knockout final between Canterbury and Manly.

Experienced forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returns from suspension for what would be his final game for the Roosters if the team were to lose.

“You lick your wounds, you learn your lessons, you get to work, and then you approach the next week with positivity and you move on with your life,” Robinson said.

“That’s what we do.”