Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk says NRL referees must be held accountable after Canberra's Sia Soliola played on despite an "illegal hit" that knocked out Billy Slater.
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But he doesn't believe making them front up to post-game press conferences is the answer, saying the whistleblowers need to be "protected from the masses".
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart called for referees to face the media after games in the wake of the 20-14 loss that leaves the Green Machine's season in tatters.
Stuart was left fuming after a host of close calls went Melbourne's way, despite an even 9-9 penalty count and the 13 errors made by Canberra.
The Raiders were lucky to play the last 30 minutes with 13 players on the field after forward Sia Soliola floored Storm fullback Billy Slater with a late elbow.
Referee Matt Cecchin has come under scrutiny for allowing Soliola to stay on the field and only putting him on report, despite Slater being knocked out by the brutal shot.
Cronk believes the hit warranted a send off - and referees boss Tony Archer agrees - but doesn't think there is much to be gained out of making referees face questioning after games.
"I don't know about that. I think in a certain aspect the referees need to be held accountable, there's no doubt about that," Cronk said.
"But in some respect we need keep them protected from the masses as well. Like every game, some teams agree with the referee and some teams don't.
"It's not my place to say or add conjecture to the judiciary or anything but I think it was an illegal hit and I'm sure there will be some discussions around that.
"But overall I think the referees do a decent job week in, week out."
Melbourne were already without hooker and captain Cameron Smith (pectoral injury) before Slater was helped from the field in a medicab.
Cronk says it was tough for the visitors to go without one of their best players while the Raiders kept 13 players on the park, but praised Melbourne's "brave" effort to win and stay clear on top of the ladder.
"Every team goes through it, we're not the only team that it's happened to, where a player goes off with a concussion and the other player stays on the field," Cronk said.
"In some respects, sometimes it is an accident and sometimes those circumstances should allow the player to stay on the field.
"But other times are extenuating circumstances. I'm not sure where this one falls into but I daresay the judiciary will have a look at it."
Storm coach Craig Bellamy will be sweating on the fitness of Smith and Slater as the finals series draws near, with fears rising the Queensland and Australia hooker could be gone for the rest of the regular season.
Rugby league legend Andrew Johns says Melbourne can't win the competition without Smith, and the club remains hopeful he will be back in time for the finals.
"No matter what happens in the next few weeks, for us it's about doing the things that we've done really well up until this point but also work on the areas of our game that we need to improve," Cronk said.
"At the end of the day, when September comes around, we need all parts of our game playing at the best of our ability, individually and collectively."
The Raiders' season is all but over, needing to win all six of their remaining games to even stand a chance at cracking the top eight.
They face four road trips and away games in Cronulla and Melbourne to round out the season, making the prospect of running the table a huge ask.
