A frustrated Trent Robinson believes match officials bungled a crucial forward-pass call in the 30-10 loss to Penrith that consigned the Sydney Roosters to a sudden-death semi-final.
The Roosters had reduced a 24-0 deficit to 14 points just after halftime in Friday night's qualifying final when winger Daniel Tupou broke free down the left edge at BlueBet Stadium.
The ball travelled through hands from James Tedesco to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who would have had clear passage to the tryline had referee Ash Klein not called play back for a forward pass from Tupou.
Penrith second-rower Luke Garner crossed eight minutes later to put the game out of the Roosters' reach and send the triple reigning premiers to a preliminary final.
At fulltime, Roosters coach Robinson was left to rue what might have been had his side been awarded a third unanswered try to begin the second half.
"I didn't think it was forward. I don't think anyone thought it was forward except the ref," Robinson said.
"Even looking at the replays and the angles of the pass, that's a big call in that moment and you can't get that wrong.
"I was disappointed ... that should have been a try and that would have made it 24-16 and then it starts to get close."
Captain Tedesco, who had received the pass from Tupou, agreed.
"I didn't think it was forward. We probably would have scored off the back of it and it would have been a different contest," Tedesco said.
But Tedesco was hesitant to make excuses for the Roosters after each of Penrith's four first-half tries came on the back of an error, penalty or poor decision from the visitors.
"We can't come out in a final and give them that much possession and that much ball because it's hard to run down," he said.
"We've got to execute for 80 minutes."
The Roosters now prepare for a home semi-final against the winners of Sunday's elimination final between Canterbury and Manly.
Veteran prop forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will return from suspension for what would be his last game at the Roosters if the side was to lose.
"You lick your wounds, pick up your lessons and get going and then you get going into next week with positivity and move on," Robinson said.
"That's what we do."
