Referee shocker mars Roosters NRL win

But the NRL will have some serious explaining to do after what seems to be a video refereeing clanger in awarding that try.

Evans said he believed he had scored, but was anxious when looking at the replays.

The loss sent the Bulldogs packing, while the Sydney Roosters outfit continue in their run for the premiership title, lining up against the Brisbane Broncos next Friday night for a grand-final qualifier.

Winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall was the most dominant outside back on the field, bagging a hat-trick of tries and crossing the 150-metre mark.

A controversial Kane Evans try in the 62nd minute, in which there was uncertainty over whether the interchange prop grounded the Steeden short of the line or not, put the Roosters ahead 12-4.

The Roosters snuffed out any hopes of a comeback shortly after when Kenny-Dowall bagged his second, showing great strength and poise to ground the ball under pressure in the corner to finish off a right-side shift.

Kenny-Dowall crossed for his second try out wide in the 65th minute, before Cordner surged over for a 73rd-minute four-pointer.

Bulldogs fans brought shame to the sport and their club by hurling bottles at the referees after their side’s close to South Sydney on Good Friday at ANZ Stadium.

Curtis Rona’s 80th-minute try, his 23rd for the season, equalled the Bulldogs’ season tryscoring record alongside Ben Barba and Nigel Vagana.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said the call could’ve gone either way, but agreed that it was a turning point in the match.

The match was full of tension, following the controversial referee decision to award a try to the Roosters, which swung the game heavily in their favour.

“I thought it looked like no try but when he gave it… happy days”.

“You need to have conviction as a ref”, he said.

“To come up with 18 from 30 (sets) on one of the biggest nights of year was just really disappointing for the side and for the fans”.

“We’ve had two really tight games”.