Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has unleashed over what he claims was a clearcut penalty try during his side's 21-20 golden-point defeat to NZ Warriors.
With the Warriors clinging to a two-point lead towards the end of the first half, Raiders half Jamal Fogarty laid what seemed a certain try on a platter with a chip kick for Sebastian Kris.
Before the fullback could get to the turf, Warriors wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak emerged from the shadows to knock the ball out of his hands and deny the Raiders the four-pointer.
Referee Todd Smith ruled it a clean strip, but referred the matter to the bunker, due to a suggestion there may have been some contact to Kris' head, as Watene-Zelezniak made his save, but it also deemed the strip clean and play continued.
As far as Stuart is concerned, the no-call was a pivotal moment in the contest that ultimately proved hugely costly to his team's chances.
"So many people were probably wondering why we even came over here this weekend, because they didn't give us a hope in hell in regards to winning this game and it should never have got to golden point," said Stuart.
"In regards to that decision before halftime with [Sebastian] Kris' no try - that was a high shot. It should have been a penalty try.
"[The match] should never have even got to golden point."
Moments after the incident, Stuart's former star fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, crossed for a try to give the Warriors a 14-6 advantage and turn the tide of the contest.
While he admits he's proud of his team's resilience to battle back with two tries in as many minutes to force the game into extra time, Stuart couldn't shake the bitter taste of the call against Kris.
"That's probably the greatest example to say of why I love coaching this footy team," he added. "They're tough and there's no give-up in them.
"I thought we played a very good game of football against a very good football team.
"[Golden point] is just the rules of the game. Little bit like getting hit in the head when you got the ball over a goal-line to score a try and you drop it - they're the rules of the game too."
The result snaps the Raiders' three-game win streak, which dates back to their last loss to the Warriors at Canberra, while dropping them to fifth on the competition ladder.
