Penrith have a guaranteed home final... but should they?

Penrith's last-second win over the Bulldogs last night has them firmly entrenched in the top four. Even if they lose this weekend, their for-and-against differential will ensure them a home final.

There was plently of controversy in last night's game, with Petero Civenoceva's high tackle on Gary Warburton and subsequent sendoff the most reported on aspect of the match. Petero will pay for his sins with a guaranteed stint on the sidelines when his side needs him most, so it would appear their luck could run out very soon.

But they were lucky to win last night at all. The 63rd minute try that levelled the scores should never have been awarded. Watch the video below at around the 2:20 mark.

http://bigpondvideo.com/nrl/292168/rd25-bulldogs-v-panthers-hls/

Now maybe I'm just a disgruntled Canterbury fan. Or maybe like the Fox Sports team say, the ref should have gone upstairs.

It was a rare moment where a video ref is ACTUALLY needed but wasn't used. Hell, Tony De Las Heras even went to the video earlier in the night to decide between a line dropout and a 20 metre restart, the first time I've ever seen such a referral. Up until the 63rd minute, he was consulting with Paul Simpkins about what colour underpants to wear.

But when faced with a potential offside and a knock-on in the lead up to a "try", the finger pointed and the whistle blew without hesitation.

I still say it wasn’t a try.