'Move on': Referee blasts Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans in awkward exchange

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans was involved in an awkward exchange with the referee today during the Sea Eagles' 56-24 thrashing of the Titans.

While the Sea Eagles enjoyed a comfortable win in the end, it was far from smooth sailing during the first half as Manly found themselves in a 16-point deficit and struggling to get their hands on the ball.

Midway through the first half, Manly was on the wrong end of a mounting penalty count before a tackled in-goal decision was ruled against winger Jason Saab, prompting referee Grant Atkins to call for a goal-line dropout on the Sea Eagles.

The referee then called for Cherry-Evans to come over and have a chat before a bizarre conversation unfolded, and was caught on Nine's live broadcast.

Atkins: "Time off., we're going for a goal-line dropout. Over here (signals to Cherry-Evans)."

Atkins to DCE: We're going for a goal-line dropout, you've given three penalties down here and I reckon on each one of them you've wanted to dispute it."

Cherry-Evans: "Of course I would, why wouldn't I dispute it?"

Atkins: "Well mate, the matter of fact is I'm not going to sit here and have you dispute it all day. You need to accept the decision and move on."

Cherry-Evans: "Right, mate. You're the one stopping the clock."

Atkins: "You keep giving them away, mate. Let's go."

The exchange was to the amusement of rugby league great Paul Vautin, who crowned Atkins the winner.

"I will go with the referee there," Vautin told Nine.

"The ball was up and in the in-goal."

Billy Slater added: "I thought it was a points decision to the referee from Daly."