They got it wrong: NRL admits four players should have been sin binned for high contact

The NRL scrapped Annesley’s weekly Monday media briefing this year, where he would address the contentious officiating issues from the weekend, because it was said to be having an impact on referees’ morale.

The same sources confirmed Ashley Klein was adamant he was in the best position to rule on Moses Leota’s knock-on on Thursday night, which ended any chance of a fightback by Penrith against South Sydney.

Still on the Panthers, winger Brian To’o is set to spend at least a month on the sidelines after hobbling from the field late in the game against Souths with an injury to the same hamstring that kept him out of the Las Vegas season opener.

Isaah Yeo, who celebrates 250 NRL games, said of losing To’o: “He’s been one of our shining lights. You know what you will get from him every game. At the moment, we’re letting in tries, but he’s been that really experienced guy on that [left] edge, and he gives everyone confidence coming out of the backfield.

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“It’s disappointing for him. It would be nice to have him out there on the back of three losses, but you’d rather it happen now than in the back end of the year. It also gives someone else an opportunity.”

Nathan Cleary (concussion) will return for the premiers against North Queensland on Friday night, but fullback Dylan Edwards (groin) remains in doubt.

Manly’s Tom Trbojevic received some good news on his knee with Sea Eagles officials confirming the star fullback will avoid surgery and be back as early as round eight against Penrith. But with the bye in round nine, Trbojevic is likely to return in round 10 against the Sharks.

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