IT WAS one of the controversial decisions from referees that divided coaches, commentators and fans during the Broncos’ 22-20 win over the Bulldogs.

But did the officials actually call this drop from Jamayne Isaako during the second half correctly by declaring the ball was knocked back?

Dogs coach Dean Pay labelled it a “disgraceful call” that contributed to his side’s loss, though less so than the last-minute decision to award a match-defining penalty to Brisbane.

Round 20

“We put a kick up, (Isaako) gives himself up as if it’s a knock on and (referee Gerard Sutton) tells him to play on,” Pay said.

“What did you think of it? If it looks like a knock-on, it is a knock-on. It’s a disgraceful call.”

Fox League’s commentary team agreed.

Warren Smith said Brisbane had “won the lottery”, Corey Parker said “awful ... that’s a knock on”, while Braith Anasta questioned how the referee could get it wrong, labelling it “unacceptable” and a “shocking call”.

First contact: Several metres ahead of the 10m line. Source: FOX SPORTS

But a frame-by-frame review of the footage contains several key clues that Isaako may have legitimately knocked the ball back, despite clearly dropping the ball from a kick.

Isaako’s body is positioned side-on, square with the left touchline as he attempts to catch the ball. While it slips through his fingers and into his chest before hitting the ground, the ball appears to travel backwards towards Brisbane’s goal line from the moment of first contact.

The rules state that a knock-on occurs when the ball moves forwards from a player’s hand or arm towards the opposition dead-ball line, or into an opposition player.

Where the ball lands: Virtually on the 10m line. Source: FOX SPORTS

The key phrase here is “towards the opposition dead-ball line”.

By that definition, Isaako’s drop appears to be knocked backwards. The contact from his hands is made several metres ahead of the 10-metre line, and the ball lands almost dead-on the 20-metre line — meaning it travelled away and not towards the opposition dead-ball line.

Even though he drops the ball into his chest first, the rules state that a knock-on is determined by where the ball hits the ground. It would only constitute a knock-on at this point if he had knocked the ball into an opponent.

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