OFF the field the NRL’s top referee Tony Archer is a likeable man. On it, like the majority of the current referees, he becomes dismissive and herein lies the centre of one of rugby league’s great problems.

Archer was approached by Manly captain Jamie Lyon immediately after Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall plunged across the tryline after an 80m burst a few minutes into the second half of last Sunday’s crucial match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Manly led 14-6 and were attacking the Roosters right-hand side defence when centre Steve Matai was clearly taken out off the play by opposition winger Sam Perrett. A falling Matai hindered any chance Manly halfback Trent Hodkinson had of getting to Kenny-Dowall who beat a chasing Lyon to the tryline.

What happened next was shameful.

Jamie Lyon isn’t an aggressive captain and he asked the referee to check the interference to Matai. Not once did the referee even look at Lyon - he was too busy listening to the video referee talking about awarding an eight-point try.

The Matai issue was quickly dismissed on the replays and the entire issue centred around Lyon going over the top of a diving Kenny-Dowall and the bonus goal was awarded.

Suddenly the game was 14-all and a massive momentum switch had evolved. One look at the replay was enough to know the two referees, two touch judges and the video referee had missed a blatant must-give penalty.

How can men trained to get decisions right make such a terrible error?

How can they all miss it?

And the question has to be asked: how did the entire Channel 9 commentary team miss it?

Did they simply elect not to say anything about it?

In round two, Parramatta got a match-winning try off not one, but two forward passes.

“Sorry, we got it wrong” was the message from referees boss Robert Finch.

The Mark Gasnier try against St George Illawarra in Round 23 - “sorry, we got it wrong”.

The eight-point try against the Roosters in round 25 and another, “sorry, we got it wrong”.

The Sea Eagles aren’t the Lone Ranger when it comes to dud calls but with the finals starting next Friday I’m concerned the premiership could be decided by yet another wrong call.

It is obvious referees are being overloaded with information. How on earth can they concentrate with so many voices coming into their ears is beyond me.

I can live with mistakes but I can’t live with the siege mentality that has become part of their nature. The players have lost confidence in them.

Reports say referees boss Robert Finch will stand down at the end of the season. I can visualise his exit statement: “Sorry, we got it wrong.”

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I WONDER how many of our Warringah councillors got down to Brookvale Oval last weekend to watch hundreds of excited youngsters play in the grand finals of their respective competitions?

The games were played in excellent spirit and some exciting talent was on display. But more than that, the tiny tots and teenagers played on the same ground as their heroes in the Sea Eagles. They got to use the same dressing rooms and showers as the big boys in the NRL.

As bad as Brookie is it remains a field of dreams for local lads on the northern beaches.

There was yet another public consultation meeting over the ground this week as the council crawls with the speed of an injured snail towards deciding the ultimate future look of the old girl. Thankfully, it will be the last of such meetings.

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HOW’S this for pure passion - just on 50 years ago this month the Manly Sea Eagles won the reserve grade premiership in the then NSW Rugby League, the club’s third title in its then brief history.

Six members of the side will be special guests for a get-together at Brookvale Oval tomorrow at the Sea Eagles/Bulldogs final home game to celebrate their victory at the SCG half a century ago.

Organiser of the gathering, Neville Behagg of Narrabeen, is going to wear his old premiership blazer to the game. It was made by Littles of Manly back in 1960 and despite being a bit tighter these days Neville will wear it with pride. He will be joined by ex-teammates Jim Peebles, Bob Thompson, Ron Woods, Len Wadling and Bobby Lenon.