Rugby League: Refereeing decisions dog NRL clashes

11:00pm

Controversy has erupted over the binning of three Parramatta Eels players after the team went down 24-18 to Newcastle in their National Rugby League clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night.

Referee Bill Harrigan sin-binned centre Michael Buettner twice, second rower Nathan Hindmarsh and five-eighth Adam Dykes – a move which some believe cost the Eels the match after the team led the game 18-14 just before Buettner's first dismissal.

Meanwhile the Bulldogs beat the Northern Eagles 42-22 at the Sydney Showground to secure their 13th consecutive win.

The win keeps the Bulldogs at the top of the NRL table – three points clear of Newcastle.

In Melbourne the Storm beat the West Tigers 26-20 in another game dogged by controversial refereeing.

Wests Tigers coach Terry Lamb expressed unhappiness over a second half decision to re-start the tackle count after a Storm player kicked the ball into the legs of Tigers forward John Skandalis.

Melbourne regathered and scored in the next phase of six tackles.