The international rule determines the ball is awarded to the team with a territorial advantage. Loading It was only the third minute of the game and it is unclear if Touma had rendered any medical assistance to a Roosters player in the same set of six. The Roosters scored before Canberra could touch the ball again. The NRL has already handed out thousands of dollars in fines this season to clubs that have had their trainers linger on the field for too long and it will need to confront the issue again this summer.

League HQ quickly leapt to the support of Cummins on Monday, less than 24 hours after head of football Graham Annesley admitted a "messy" and "unpalatable" scenario when the referee waved six again, only to rescind his call before Jack Wighton surrendered with the ball. "He was appointed the lead referee because he was deemed to be the best referee," PRLMO chairman Silvio Del Vecchio said of Cummins. "Absolutely nothing has changed. He's still the best referee. They're just like you and me, they're blood and bone. They can, and will, suffer Silvio Del Vecchio "It's about educating everybody, the media, general public and players from grass roots all the way through to the NRL we must uphold a level of respect for our referees and match officials. "They're just like you and me, they're blood and bone. They can, and will, suffer. We just need to be respectful of that, especially their families. There's real suffering in human lives when the heat of the moment takes over. We have thick skin, but it cuts.

"That's why we need to continue to chip away at the respect factor. That greater recognition and respect still does not exist." Canberra coach Ricky Stuart declined an opportunity to speak to Annesley in the aftermath of the grand final and refused to comment on the officiating in his official post-game press conference. Ben Cummins talks to Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner. Credit:AAP Roosters coach Trent Robinson was at pains to keep at arm's length from the refereeing circus on Monday having a night earlier questioned the decision to sin bin Cooper Cronk for a professional foul in the second half. "That’s the nature of our game," Robinson said. "Two teams fought it out and that’s for others to comment on. As a coach, I think we know how the game went, how it looked and how we fought for our opportunities and we won the game. That’s not for me to jump into."