Phil Rothfield and Brent Read have engaged in a fiery debate on NRL 360 over the decision to award the Bulldogs a crucial penalty in their thrilling win over the Dragons on Saturday night.

Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz attempted to play the ball, 30 metres out from his own line, after being tackled by Dragons forward Luciano Leilua.

The ball wasn’t played properly, with the referee originally ruling that Kiraz had just lost control as he was trying to play it.

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But the Bulldogs successfully challenged the decision, with the bunker ruling that Leilua had interfered with the ruck.

Trailing 18-16 at the time, with just over five minutes left in the game, the penalty allowed the Bulldogs to kick for touch, and camp down the Dragons’ end.

That led to the matchwinning try at the 77th minute, which was scored by Jethro Rinakama, from a brilliant Lachlan Galvin pass, giving Canterbury a 20-18 win.

The decision left Rothfield and Read at loggerheads on Monday night.

Read believed the decision to award the penalty was the right one.

“Could I also point out, Leilua’s arm is on Jacob Kiraz’s back, which stops him getting to his feet,” Read said.

“Now the NRL has cleared this today. Said this decision is right.”

But Rothfield disagreed, and interjected.

“But that doesn’t make it right, Ready,” Rothfield said.

Before Read doubled down on his point.

“Well it does, I’m sorry, that does,” Read added.

“Because they sat there, and they’ve watched this and said, can I finish?

“Flanno talked about him planting the ball. He hasn’t planted the ball because Leilua’s foot’s got in the way.

“So the ball was never planted. Let’s start by saying that.”

Rothfield interjected again.

“It was planted. He planted it on his boot,” Rothfield said.

“He tried to play it too quickly and he stuffed it up.”

Read then explained again why Kiraz hadn’t got to his feet.

“The second thing is he hasn’t got to his feet because Leilua’s got his arm on his back. That’s why he hasn’t got to his feet,” he said.

Rothfield then pointed out that the NRL also said, what appeared to be a clear knock-on from Jarome Luai in the Tigers’ win over the Titans at Leichhardt Oval, was a 50-50 call.

In Rothfield’s opinion, that meant the NRL’s explanations for decisions made by the match officials were not worth listening to.

Then the discussion came back to the Leilua-Kiraz incident.

“Leilua’s arm was on his back which prevented him getting to his feet,” Read added.

“And Leilua’s foot, the ball was never planted on the ground because his foot got in the way.”

But then Rothfield fired another barb at Read.

“I’m sorry, Ready, I’m sorry. The spin doctors have got to you. They have mate, they have,” Rothfield said.

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But co-host Dan Ginnane felt the Dragons also needed to wear the blame for the defeat themselves, pointing out that winger Tyrell Sloan rushed out of the line, allowing Galvin to find an unmarked Rinakama with the pass that led to the winning try.

“You know what, you gotta make that last tackle. Don’t race in,” Ginnane said.

“I know that’s cruel on Tyrell Sloan and I think the better team lost that game, but there’s a reason why the Dragons keep losing close ones.

“While they didn’t get the rub of the green on Saturday night and I can understand (coach) Shane (Flanagan’s) frustration, don’t run in and open the door for Galvin, he was like a glitch in that video game, the poor fella.

“Canterbury, the kid had one moment, he was not very good all game, none of them were, but one moment, and that’s all that matters.”