'High drama': Manly claim 'outrageous' try in upset win

The Sea Eagles’ supreme 32-18 win over the Panthers at Brookvale Oval has been overshadowed by controversy after a contentious try was granted.

Toluta’u Koula sprinted away to score in the 34th minute after his Manly teammate Tommy Talau appeared to have knocked the ball on while trying to intercept a Dylan Edwards pass.

Talau immediately showed an expression of guilt as Koula scooped up the ball up and charged 90 metres downfield unchallenged to score.

Despite the error in the lead-up to the try, referee Todd Smith awarded it and the Bunker confirmed it with league great Corey Parker believing the knock-on was ignored.

“That’s a knock on, I don’t understand how Todd Smith has let that play on,” he told Fox League.

“The evidence is on the face of Tom Talau.”

“There’s a lesson [here], play to the whistle,” fellow commentator Dan Ginnane added.

“High drama at Brookvale… of course it’s a knock on, a contentious knockdown pass.”