It was meant to be the game of the round in the NRL, but the Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles clash on Sunday turned into a penalty-a-thon - and Michael Ennis is not happy.
The on-field officials blew 26 penalties in the game at GIO Stadium that saw Manly defy the odds and claim an 18-14 win in front of a packed house.
Speaking on the Big League Wrap on Sunday night, Ennis slammed the referees for 'ruining' what was the biggest game of the weekend between two top-four sides.
MORE: Carney recounts spray from former coach
“I think there was a lot of frustration in the game,” he said.
“Twenty six penalties today, it ruined the occasion, it really did. Twenty in the game before with Melbourne and the Titans.
“We’ve had Graham Annesley come out at the start of the year and say that he wanted to get the flow of the game back and at a crucial part of the season, an afternoon of what was almost rugby union like is really concerning.
“When we’ve got officials blowing 46 penalties, it’s a worry.”
When fellow panelist James Hooper played devil's advocate and said the onus comes back onto the players to be better with their discipline, Ennis continued to spray the officials who have been at the centre of attention in recent weeks.
“I think if you go back and look at all the games you’ve enjoyed there’s been a good flow to it, there’s been attrition in it and there’s been that combative nature," he said.
MORE: Bellamy hints at future spine
“But I think referees need to understand things are starting to heat up and nitpicking is not going to make for an enjoyable finals series.
“We’ve been down this path before...there was a number of them, which completely ruined it in terms of letting the key people and personnel in the games to be able to control the outcome.
“And that was Graham’s thing when he came in and took over this he wanted the referees to not control the outcome of the game, and they did today in both games I thought”
It will certainly remain a big talking point heading into the finals series, with plenty of games going down to the wire and some crucial calls could potentially hurt a team's hopes of lifting the title.
