Wandering around the Manly dressing shed after the Gold Coast's 18-17 NRL win at Skilled Park yesterday, Manly captain Matt Orford had just one question.
How did he concede the match-winning penalty?
Orford resorted to quizzing journalists, so confused was he by referee Matt Cecchin's controversial 78th-minute infringement penalty that sealed the Titans victory.
''I don't know, seriously,'' a baffled Orford told reporters.
Five minutes before full-time Orford would have been forgiven for thinking he would be leaving the tourist strip a hero.
He kicked what looked like the match-winning field goal in the 75th minute.
And the nuggety halfback had earlier muscled his way over to score the Sea Eagles' only second-half try to give them a vital 16-10 lead.
However, referee Cecchin left the Sea Eagles gobsmacked when he penalised Orford for taking out Titans fullback Preston Campbell right in front of the sticks in the dying minutes.
Orford's frustrations were evident as he called out to Cecchin ''you'll be in reserve grade next week''.
Titans co-captain Scott Prince calmly potted over the penalty kick that sealed their first ever win over Manly.
Orford was still scratching his head after the game over Cecchin's call.
''The call was 'someone got taken out without the ball' that was the ref's ruling,'' Orford said.
''He didn't say me [took Campbell out], he didn't say anyone.
''I don't know. I'm lost. I was the one contesting the ball so I am guessing so.
''I kept looking at the screen and I couldn't find it [infringement].''
Orford said the loss would ''hurt'' the team as it tried to get its premiership defence back on track.
It ended a run of two straight wins for the premiers, who now have a 4-7 win-loss record in 2009.
''I still thought we fought very hard at the end and probably deserved those two points,'' Orford said.
Manly coach Des Hasler thought the refereeing could cost more than just two competition points.
''The impact for the NRL is that the fans will get really pissed off,'' he said. ''People are going to be turned away from the game by seeing these situations.
''Because they are paying good money to turn up and watch the game, and in the end it isn't a contest. They are going to get frustrated and really disillusioned.
''It's not only today. Today was one of the worst decisions that we have seen for a while but it has happened in other games.
''The game is professional, the officialdom isn't.''
Cecchin's bizarre decision came less than 48 hours after dubious calls marred both Friday night encounters.
South Sydney was denied the opportunity to have a crack at a match-winning field goal against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium with referee Brett Suttor not allowing a scrum to be fed as the hooter sounded at the end of extra-time with the scores tied at 16-all.
Across town at Campbelltown Stadium, Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens was livid after his star playmaker Benji Marshall was sin-binned for repeated infringements as the Tigers went down to Brisbane 20-18.
Sheens claimed Marshall copped a raw deal after both sides had been warned for repeated infringements in the first half.
It was a nightmare end to a controversial week for the Sea Eagles.
Leading up to the match there was uncertainty surrounding chief executive Grant Mayer's future after a boardroom brawl reignited.
To boot, Kiwi centre Steve Matai is expected to be out for ''a couple of weeks'' after sustaining an ankle injury yesterday.
The Sea Eagles were already reeling from news that Brett Stewart may not be back before the finals, with his 8-12 week knee injury now expected to take another four months to heal.
Stewart who was injured five weeks ago is due back in court tomorrow after pleading not guilty to two sexual assault charges. AAP
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