Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley questioned how Aidan Sezer escaped punishment for a trip during their defeat to Leeds Rhinos. Deon Cross was adjudged to have dropped the ball after a scrum play, but Salford players were left furious that the call was given.
Sezer appeared to put his hand up to apologise for the incident but the call went in favour of the Rhinos, much to Rowley's annoyance.
Though the Reds boss was keen to stress his side didn't deserve to win the game, he was annoyed with the decision.
Read more: Every word from Rohan Smith after Leeds Rhinos' win over Salford Red Devils
"I don't think it was a particularly good game, there were around 25 errors, I don't think either were great," he said. "Compounding that, we got some tough calls, certainly the trip, Leeds should be down to 12 and they're not, I don't get how you cannot see that.
"Then Sita (Akauola), the first two six agains against us in the half, then a sin bin, I think that's a bit of the occasion getting the better of everyone and it became a Leeds party after that and we were on the end of it.
"He (Ben Thaler) said it was because he'd given two set restarts and this was the third but it's a new one on me that three set restarts and you're in the sin bin. I could understand the penalty but maybe the 14,500 fans were giving some encouragement. But they were the first two of the half as well which makes it more bizarre near the end of the game, very strange. It's not cost us the game, that's for sure. It's not something we'll focus on but you ask the questions."
Rowley, who insisted Leeds were deserving of the two points, saw his side drop out of the play-offs as a result of the loss in a game that saw them fall 18 points behind inside 20 minutes. But he said there's still all to play for.
"The best team won in my opinion and that's tough to take for us. We proved it wasn't (impossible to overturn the deficit) because we had lots of opportunities and they were clocking up errors. But that came from our detail in attack. I thought that was off and then the errors came. We came up with errors at bad moments when we looked threatening. Definitely one where we'll kick ourselves but there's quite a bit to go yet and we'll learn from it. We'll review it honestly and move to our next opponent as there is a lot to play for.
"It's been remarkable in that respect that so many are fighting for the last two spots. We won't be giving up, that's not in our DNA, we'll go to our next job. All it means is Leeds has put their destiny in their own hands. That was our spot before this, so we'll work hard to get that back."
Sam Luckley failed a HIA and will miss next week's game against Huddersfield and the club plans to assess a hamstring injury picked up by Dan Sarginson. Tyler Dupree is expected to feature next week despite a late pullout before Sunday's defeat.
Read next
Leeds Rhinos player ratings as Rhyse Martin shines in excellent Salford Red Devils victory
Leeds Rhinos complete Derrell Olpherts move as Castleford Tigers winger makes move
Comparing Leeds Rhinos target Derrell Olpherts' stats to club's current wingers
Leeds Rhinos in pole position to land League 1 teenage sensation
Tom Briscoe set for Leeds Rhinos exit as Rohan Smith provides latest on Zak Hardaker
