Billy Slater scored a contentious try for Melbourne in the side's victory over Manly on Friday night. Photo / Getty Images
Video referee Sean Hampstead could be relieved of his duties for the third time this year after NRL referees' boss Bill Harrigan admitted to yet another botched call from his officials.
Hampstead's hopes of taking part in Sunday's grand final between Canterbury and Melbourne appear over, Harrigan claiming the decision
to award Billy Slater's first try in Melbourne's 40-12 thumping of Manly in Friday night's preliminary final was incorrect.
"Yes, Slater drops the ball and this try should not have been awarded," Harrigan said in his weekly debrief on the NRL website.
It is the second time in as many weeks during the finals series that Harrigan has had to admit to a video referee error following the call to award a crucial try in Manly's semi-final win over North Queensland.
That decision cost Steve Clark and Paul Simpkins any chance of refereeing again during the finals, and it appears Hampstead and Russell Smith could face the same fate.
