Hasler fumes as costly Bunker call haunts Titans
Titans coach Des Hasler revealed he was straight on the phone to NRL football boss Graham Annesley after his side's Magic Round loss to the Knights.
Late in a see-sawing affair between the Titans and Knights to open Saturday Magic Round action at Suncorp Stadium, Brian Kelly looked to have scored to draw the Titans level with a kick to come from out wide.
On-field official Gerard Sutton awarded the try and after a substantial delay, the Bunker finally ordered a review of the grounding.
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Replays showed there was an albeit slight bobble and the try was overturned.
In his post match press conference that lasted less than two minutes, Hasler cut a dejected figure and revealed he'd already spoken to Annesley.
"Try, every day of the week," he said when asked his thoughts.
"(Kelly) never came away from the ball, and if he did then it's a penalty (for a) strip, isn't it? They don't know, they don't know.
"If we seek clarity, they'll say 'Yeah, we got it wrong, we're sorry, let's move on'. Oh sorry, (they'll say) 'they're only human', which they are. We all make mistakes.
"I feel really sorry for the fans. The fans are just getting the rough end ... maybe Graham needs to consider that."
When pushed on what Annesley said, Hasler offered a "no comment".
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Kelly was also quizzed on the controversial game-deciding call post-game and was left furious with the Bunker's judgement.
"F-----g oath it was a try," he told Wide World Of Sports.
"I felt like I had control of it and was still holding onto the ball. It's frustrating - another tight one that we let slip away. It was a try, in knockout football that's play on.
"It was an unlucky game. He was pretty pissed, but Dessy is passionate about the team and I back him and he backs me."
Gold Coast found themselves 10-nil down inside the first 10 minutes, but scored five tries in the next 20 to take a commanding 24-10 lead into the break - but the momentum shifted in the second half as the the Knights emerged with the two points.
Hasler also lamented several other offside calls that were not blown by Sutton.
"It's pretty clear to see ... even the second half, the offsides, clearly just jumping the line the whole time, (which) makes it really difficult to get out," he said.
"It's very frustrating there for the players with the competition being so close. To go through what they went through most of that half, to get in a position to win."