NRL referees boss Tony Archer has blamed senior bunker official Jared Maxwell for the refereeing howler that resulted in Akuila Uate’s match-sealing try in Manly’s win over Newcastle.

Uate was immediately awarded a critical try midway through the second half by referee Ashley Klein, despite his touch judge asking for the decision to be sent to the bunker on Friday.

Replays later showed that Uate had dropped the ball over the line, before the Sea Eagles held off a fast-finishing Knights to claim a closely-fought 18-14 win.

MATCH REPORT: Uate haunts old club with a double

Round 20

Late on Friday night, Archer revealed Maxwell had bizarrely bypassed the video review process and informed Klein that the grounding was good. “Having reviewed the play and the process followed by the officials, it is clear that the touch judge requested that the decision should be referred,” Archer said.

“Prior to the referee having the opportunity to refer the play, the senior review official intervened and advised that it was a try. Based on this advice, the referee then awarded the try.

“The actions of the senior review official to intervene are contrary to the current policy and also resulted in an incorrect decision.” The incident is certain to raise questions over how often referees are advised by the bunker before opting to send the decision to be reviewed.

Prior to Archer’s explanation, Knights coach Nathan Brown was at a loss to explain why Klein had declined to ask for a replay.

“You watch the TV and you watch the touch judge. That’s why he stood back, he didn’t go to the tryline, he stood back and told him,” Brown said. “You watch him mouth it out, ‘Just check the grounding’.” Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett admitted his team were lucky to escape with the two points, but claimed Uate was incorrectly robbed of a separate try moments earlier.

The former Knights winger was denied a four-pointer after it was ruled he interfered with an airborne Brendan Elliot on a Blake Green kick that Uate chased down and scored.

“Look, we were lucky. Some weeks you get them,” Barrett said. “I thought the try before it, when he ruled Choc interfered with the catcher, I thought that was a fair try. And then the other one obviously he dropped it. In the end it was a bit even-stevens.”

Uate insisted he should have been awarded both tries, including the matchwinner. “I knew I couldn’t get to the ball so I just went up for a contest. He touched it first, so I scored that try,” he said of the first incident. “I don’t think it was a knock-on, the next one I scored. It looks loose, but I still had my hands on the ball. It was a try. I don’t know what they’re talking about.”