'This is a debacle': Referee Gerard Sutton called out for not stopping play as ball hits injured Dragon

The NRL's referees are facing fresh criticism after play was not stopped during Sunday's clash between the Dragons and Broncos as young St George Illawarra forward Dylan Egan lay on the ground injured.

Egan was involved in a four-man tackle on Broncos front-rower Payne Haas early in the Suncorp Stadium match when his right knee buckled.

The 20-year-old suffered a suspected ACL rupture.

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Minutes later, he cut a devastated figure as he watched from the sideline with his knee wrapped in ice.

When Egan went down injured, referee Gerard Sutton didn't stop play despite the Dragons forward writhing on the ground clutching at his knee, clearly in agony.

And the situation turned farcical when, on the last tackle, Billy Walters threw a wayward pass from dummy-half and the ball hit Egan, who was still flat on his back.

Sutton decided the last tackle would be played again, but held off the restart until Egan had been assisted off the field.

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"This is a debacle that the game hasn't been stopped," Fox League caller Andrew Voss said as play carried on.

"He's obviously not feigning injury, and we've continued given other times we stop for cramp and all the rest.

"I find this stunning."

Brisbane opened the scoring in dubious fashion through Gehamat Shibasaki, before returning five-eighth Ezra Mam extended the lead with a try of his own.