The Warriors missed a chance to go level with Penrith after being denied three tries against the Panthers in a 20-18 defeat.
An offside call followed by a forward pass saw two first half tries ruled out as Panthers edged the contest despite missing Nathan Clearly, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o.
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But a third try, which came just six minutes from time, did spark a moment of controversy.
Dylan Edwards dropped a long, hopeful kick from Chanel Harris-Tavita, and Te Maire Martin pounced to score a try to put the Wahs in front.
However referee Gerard Sutton immediately went to the Bunker to determine whether Jackson Ford had committed a knock on as he challenged Edwards for the ball.
The try was checked thoroughly and Ford was judged to have touched the ball by the slimmest of margins.
The Warriors forward brushed the ball with his pinky so the try was overturned.
That proved to be a key decision as Panthers held on to win by just two points.
Fans felt the Warriors were hard done by and that their performance deserved more.
“I don’t think that was knock-on from the Wahs. Pinky finger your a*** that was knock back by Dylan Edwards for sure. Wahs got robbed,” wrote one fan.
Another added: “Warriors were robbed tonight.”
A third wrote: “Clear try everyday of the week.”
And another commented: “Ref near on blew it no try while they were still in the air! Yet takes six replays to confirm a fingernail touched the ball.”
The Warriors being denied at the death meant Paul Alamoti proved to be the hero as he scored the winning try – moments after costing his side.
It was his slip under a kick that allowed Alofiana Khan-Pereira to cross the line to put the Wahs in front in the 58th minute.
But he was on hand to finish a brilliant flowing move in the corner to take the Panthers winning run to seven.
Originally published as Warriors denied try at the death in top of the ladder thriller against Panthers