NRL referees' boss Tony Archer has backed whistle-blower Henry Perenara after the controversial penalty that consigned Newcastle to their 18th consecutive defeat on Saturday.
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With scores locked 26-26 at Kogarah Oval and barely a minute of play remaining, Perenara penalised Knights veteran Jeremy Smith for hindering St George Illawarra winger Kurt Mann as he attempted to play the ball.
From 39 metres out, Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop kicked the goal to ruin Newcastle's hopes of taking the match into golden point and perhaps snatching a drought-breaking victory.
Knights coach Nathan Brown and Smith both criticised Perenara's decision after the match, but after reviewing the video, Archer said the referee got it right.
"The penalty is the correct [decision]," Archer said.
"The tackle is complete, Kurt Mann is in the process of getting to his feet to play the ball, when Jeremy Smith contacts his arm with his right knee and foot, which dislodges the ball.
"Play breaks down as a result. In those circumstances, it's a ruck infringement by Newcastle and should be penalised."
Brown said at the post-match press conference: "In the context of the game, she was no penalty, that one.
"Not that it lost us the game, but it wasn't a penalty at all. You could find a thousand of them."
Smith suggested that he had been treated unfairly. "He put the ball on my foot. I was just getting up."
