Parramatta Eels skipper Mitchell Moses has been called out for touching referee Peter Gough three times after he was sent an official warning by the NRL over his constant badgering of referees.

Moses had a running battle with Gough in the Eels’ 22-20 golden point loss to the Tigers in Round 5, taking issue with a number of contentious calls, before trying to make amends by gently patting him on the back and arm on multiple occasions.

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Under NRL rules no player is allowed to touch the referee for any reason, while the NRL has taken issue with Moses for continuously debating decisions, despite the fact he is captain.

Discussing the warning on NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said he had heard the NRL’s issue was with “the badgering… more so than the touching, but combined.”

Gorden Tallis was no stranger to referee altercations during his career, but thinks Moses’ indiscretions were on the lighter side.

“Look, I know you’re not supposed to do it and it wasn’t the other guy in the Balmain jersey, that patted him on the head, big Blocker (Steve Roach),” Tallis said.

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Mitchell Moses was sent an official warning.Source: Getty Images

“I know it’s not a great look and it does filter down. But maybe a warning letter, say, listen, you can’t touch them, but I don’t think it’s that bad.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio commended the NRL’s decision to protect the referees against physical and emotional abuse and encourage people to continue pursuing the often thankless task.

“I think it’s necessary because match officials are so pivotal to the game,” Riccio said.

“And we bag them. We absolutely give them hell. We bag that crap out of them, but they’re absolutely pivotal to the game.”

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Fox League’s Paul Crawley warned Moses was paid to keep calm in the heat of battle and constantly battling with the referees won’t help his team.

“It was a highly emotional game and you get that he was getting frustrated and agitated and over-emotional,” Crawley said.

“But it’s his job to keep his cool. And the great captains, that’s what they do.

“I reckon, the more you can work with the referee, the more you’ll get back because yesterday he was teetering on becoming a little bit out of control.”

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Anasta did like the fact that winning meant so much to Moses, but said he needs to channel that emotion into his performance.