Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson unloads on veteran referee Ashley Klein for forward pass call

The Sydney Roosters are feeling hard done-by after a controversial forward pass decision from NRL referee Ashely Klein stymied any chance of a comeback in their 30-10 qualifying final loss to Penrith on Friday night.

The Panthers looked to have put the game to bed when they burst out of the blocks to a 24-0 lead at half time, but Sydney weren’t done with yet.

Tries to Joseph Sua’ali’i and James Tedesco within the first eight minutes of the second half breathed life back into the contest, dragging the scoreline back to 24-10.

And they looked all but certain to make it 24-16, if not for conceding a contentious forward pass.

With 17 minutes left in the game, Daniel Tupou found Tedesco in a dangerous spot, who set up Sua’ali’i on the outside with no one between him and the tryline.

Sua’ali’i could have strolled in and given his side the easiest of conversion kicks, but Klein had other ideas.

The veteran referee apparently saw Tedesco’s pass differently, deeming to forward.

“I didn’t think it was forward,” Robinson said in the post-match press conference.

“I don’t think anyone thought it was forward except for the ref. Even looking at the replays and the angle of the pass, that’s a big call at that moment and you can’t get that wrong.”

Tedesco echoed his coach’s thoughts.

“I didn’t think it was forward,” he said.

“We could have scored off the back of it, it could have been a different contest. I didn’t agree with the whistle.”

NRL legend Brad Fittler said it could have been “a completely different game” if not for the decision.

But Melbourne Storm great and Roosters premiership player Cooper Cronk said his old side needed to move on from the disappointment in the moment.

“Those are just moments in the game you have to move on from,” he said on Nine.

Good luck telling that to fans though, who were incredulous.

“Never call a forward pass unless you are certain. Come on!!! Robbed of an eight-point margin and game on,” one said.

“That is one of the worst forward pass calls ever. Holy hecka. Dumbfounded,” another added.

The Panthers killed the game off with eight minutes to play, scoring another try to stretch the margin out to 20 points.

Penrith are now one win away from earning the right to play off for a fourth-straight premiership.

The Roosters will lick their wounds and face the winner of Saturday’s Bulldogs-Sea Eagles elimination final.