Adam O'Brien gives contained response to polarising penalty try as Eels edge Knights in do-or-die final

Knights coach Adam O'Brien disagrees with the referee's call to award the Eels a match-sealing penalty try in the dying stages of his side's elimination final.

But the Newcastle mentor refused to be drawn into the controversy during his post-match media conference, opting to remain tight-lipped instead of unleashing on the game's officials.

As the Knights trailed 22-20 in the 77th minute of the Rockhampton clash, bunker official Grant Atkins awarded Parramatta a penalty try after Newcastle winger Enari Tuala interfered with Eels centre Will Penisini.

READ MORE: Knights' 'curious' handling of sickening Tyson Frizell head knock astounds rugby league world

Eels fullback Clint Gutherson threaded a grubber on the right edge and, as the bunker trawled through replays, Atkins came to the decision that Penisini would have collected the ball and scored if Tuala hadn't made contact with him.

While that's just about undeniable, a penalty try was awarded despite Gutherson appearing to drop the ball before getting a toe on it.

But O'Brien spared just five words when asked for his thoughts on the ruling.

"I'll save myself some cash," O'Brien said.

The second-year Knights coach instead lamented the two tries his side conceded late in the opening half.

Playmaker Mitchell Moses split through for a stellar solo try from 40 metres out in the 36th minute, before a Penisini flick pass sent winger Blake Ferguson over in the right corner two minutes later.

It meant that in the final five minutes before the half-time break, the Knights went from 10-6 up to 16-10 down.

READ MORE: Sam Verrills hit with grade-two charge for hit on Brian Kelly, leaving Roosters with massive call

"The two tries before half-time hurt me more than (the penalty try)," O'Brien said.

"We control that stuff before half-time (and we're better off). And that's where we need to get to ultimately. If you take care of those things there, then the try at the end is not important.

"When the game was in the washing machine we were going well and then just before half-time there were some stoppages and I think we switched off mentally. (We) came up with some system errors defensively and (it) cost us two tries."

READ MORE: Teen freaks Sam Walker, Reece Walsh shortlisted for RLPA Rookie of the Year award