Kangaroos winger Valentine Holmes has controversially been awarded an eight-point try after Tonga's Tevita Pangai Junior was ruled to have infringed on him.
In the dying stages of the first half at Mount Smart Stadium, Latrell Mitchell found Holmes, who went over for his second try in the corner to give Australia a 28-10 lead.
Referee Gerard Sutton sent the decision upstairs to be checked by the bunker, asking that they examine a possible obstruction along with the possibility of an eight-pointer due to Pangai Junior's contact.
The obstruction was cleared, and the bunker awarded the eight-point try after replays showed Pangai Junior made contact with the head of Holmes with his foot.
MORE: Australia v Tonga: Sipi Tau rocks Mt Smart Stadium
It could be argued, however, that there was no way Pangai Junior had time to pull out of the incident.
Pangai Junior was placed on report by Sutton.
Holmes didn't capitalise on the eight-point opportunity though, missing the first conversion attempt before adding the second from under the posts.
Watch the eight-point try below:
Fans on Twitter blew up about the decision.
The Refs and Bunker are so outta touch it's frightening . The game isn't played in slow motion ffs #RoosTonga
— Kyle (SAF) (@SaffaKyle) October 20, 2018
In no universe is that an eight point Try. Laughable. #RoosTonga
— Blake Edwards (@BlakeEdwards77) October 20, 2018
This refs having tonga over at every opportunity #RoosTonga #Spoilingit
— Darren (@sowersby1) October 20, 2018
#RoosTonga that rule been brought in after slater retired?
— Rob Maxwell (@rmax84) October 20, 2018
A great exhibition of how Australia rugby league continues to kill any kind of growth in the sport with biased referring making sure the @Kangaroos win at all cost 🙄 #australiansport4ya #RoosTonga
— Josh Stevens (@JoshStevens10) October 20, 2018
Slater’s knees would have got away with that #roostonga
— Nez (@fraggle73) October 20, 2018
#RoosTonga Pretty bad decision from bunker and ref against Tonga. There was no intent should not even be on report
— Kirsty Callander (@kirsty112233) October 20, 2018
If he could kick him in face on purpose, if he could've stopped in a split second, he'd be a damn miracle worker and should consider a career in acrobatics or magic. #roostonga #MateMaaTonga
— Bad Editing (@badediting) October 20, 2018
Two early tries to Manly pair Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic took some of the wind out of the Tongan sails but Pangai Junior responded shortly after to get Tonga on the board.
It then threatened to get ugly mid-way through the first half with Holmes' first try and another to Tom Trbojevic extending Mal Meninga's side's lead to three converted tries.
Daniel Tupou then got on the end of a slick backline move to keep his team in it.
Australia had a 30-10 lead at half-time.
Tonga scored first in the second half through Solomone Kata at the 49th minute, finding space out wide after stepping past Luke Keary and Boyd Cordner.
But James Tedesco, who was rightly named man of the match, put the result beyond doubt at the 63rd minute, strolling over in the corner as Australia secured a 34-16 victory.