NRL: Ref Harrigan axed after blunder

Bill Harrigan during his on-field refereeing days. File photo / Getty Images

The National Rugby League's (NRL) most experienced match official Bill Harrigan has been dumped as a video referee after incorrectly awarding a try to St George Illawarra during the competition leaders' victory over Manly last night.

Harrigan, the NRL's assistant referees' coach, has been banished after ruling Dragons centre Mark Gasnier scored despite television replays indicating he lost control of the ball before it rolled over the line.

The contentious try in the 30th minute pushed the Dragons out to a 10-0 lead and they eventually won the round 23 match 32-10.

Harrigan defended his decision after the match saying: "It was benefit of the doubt. There was no separation (between ball and Gasnier's hand)."

However, after a review of footage NRL referees' boss Robert Finch today said Harrigan should not have awarded the try and dropped the grand final veteran from video refereeing duties until further notice.

Harrigan accepted his demotion via a statement.

"We expect people to be accountable and Robert Finch should expect that of me," Harrigan said.

Finch said the decision to drop Harrigan should be a wake-up call for all officials.

"That was a very senior team and we would expect a higher standard of performance allround," he said.

Dragons fans voiced their displeasure early in the second half when Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran scored from a blatant forward pass by Brent Kite, an indiscretion missed by referees Shayne Hayne, Matt Cecchin plus touch judges Steve Carrall and Steve Chiddy.

They were not sanctioned.

However, Finch said it was imperative match officials lifted their game with the playoffs looming.

"Like any squad of people there are times when you can suffer a drop in form but it isn't something that we can continue to accept and certainly not at this time of year," he said.

"I've already acknowledged that some of the squad are not performing at the standard that I know they can reach. We have been working on that with them but we can only maintain that approach for so long," he said, warning there could be personnel changes.

"We do have people in the wider squad that are in form and who have a lot to offer and the message is very clearly that the focus now will be on form and not reputation in the weeks ahead."

Harrigan controlled 392 first grade games between 1986 and 2003, including 10 grand finals.

- NZPA