Referees' boss Finch backs end result

Referees boss Robert Finch says the method and not the end result was up for debate following the controversial awarding of a try to Brisbane prop Nick Kenny in Monday night's NRL thriller at Suncorp Stadium.

Kenny was given the green light on a try that put the Broncos in front late in the 34-30 loss to the Sydney Roosters, despite inconclusive replays being made available to video referee Tim Mander as to how team-mate Israel Folau lost the ball in the lead-up.

The impact of the four-pointer was lessened when Shaun Kenny-Dowall crossed for his fourth try of the night to cap a remarkable Roosters win.

But Finch backed the end result.

"We've had a look at it in super slow mo and I'm comfortable it should have gone benefit of the doubt," Finch said.

"The referee told me he would have given it a try if it had gone back as ref's call.

"I would have preferred benefit of the doubt because quite obviously there's a bit of doubt there.

"Arch (on-field referee Tony Archer) said he would have given it a try.

"He'd seen what he'd seen but he also needed to check who grounded the ball afterwards because the Broncos player and the Roosters player were pretty close grounding it."

There was also controversy with Mander not given access to the most telling replay of the play from the open side, which showed the tangle of arms as Folau desperately attempted to ground the ball.

"Basically there was an error made by one of their video-tape operators," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley told reporters.

- AAP