There was no bunker to adjudicate on the Foran touch that ended North Queensland's season and sparked myriad conspiracy theories in Townsville. Now, we have the technology that will allow Manly fans to stew over a call that has left the Silvertails seething.

The decision came down to whether Tyrone Peachey's hand touched the ball after it bobbled off his chest and into the in-goal area for the Panthers to break a 10-all deadlock. The call went upstairs to Bernard Sutton. After watching the replay countless times, he couldn't find conclusive evidence to overturn the decision of 'try' at ground level.

It was one of several contentious decisions, the majority of which went against the Sea Eagles. Sea Eagles Dylan Walker and Akuila Uate also got the red light when they crossed, leaving the men from the northern beaches fuming.

While Panther Bryce Cartwright scored late, it was the Peachey try that proved the difference between continuing a finals campaign and planning Mad Monday. It provided a controversial finish to a spiteful game, underscored by incessant sledging between the combatants.

In the war of words that was Dylan Walker versus Penrith, the mountain men had the last word.

If you're going to give it, Walker had said ahead of last week's rematch, you've got to be able to take it. And boy, did he cop it.

No man has had more to say on the footy field in the last seven days. In a bid to motivate himself and put off his opponents, Walker has engaged in a war of words that continued at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

For the most part, Walker has been able to back up the words with deeds. When he scored a try off a sublime cross-field kick from Tom Trbojevic to score, his initial reaction wasn't a post-try celebration. Instead, he scanned the field for the closest Panther, cleared his throat and gave him a gobful as he strutted back into position. Even Trent Merrin received a spray. Merrin was warming the interchange bench at the time.

Walker seemingly had more ammunition when he crossed early in the second half. Sea Eagles pivot Blake Green found the Panthers in-goal with a pin-point grubber, Walker was first on the scene and put the Steeden down clearly.

The decision was 'try' at ground level but Gerard Sutton went upstairs to make sure. Walker was onside? Replays suggested it was literally a line-ball call. It will long be talked about. Just hours after Parramatta coach Brad Arthur took aim at the bunker - specifically its lack of use - another controversial call. No try. Walker didn't need to look at the big screen for confirmation. The Panthers let him know.

It was an absorbing contest, with action on and off the ball. The Sea Eagles had another try disallowed, this time Uate, when the winger was ruled to have knocked on a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber over the line. The post-mortems begin.

Ivan Cleary was at the game to cast an eye over his son. And perhaps Matt Moylan. The Wests Tigers coach indicated during the week he would be interested in the sometime NSW playmaker if he were to come onto the open market. Moylan was also at the game, just on the the players' tunnel, watching the action. Perhaps their paths may cross in the off-season.

For now, however, Penrith's season is very much alive.