Fairfax Media has learnt the timekeeper – who is a casual NRL employee – was forced to stand on a chair inside the timekeeping box at Brookvale Oval because his view from within the main grandstand was obstructed when fans rose from their seats as Tom Symonds scored the match-winning try against the Panthers.  It is understood the error cost the Panther up to 14 seconds of staging an unlikely comeback.

Penrith skipper Jamie Soward labelled the failure for the clock to stop  as "disgraceful" as Symonds scored with 68 seconds remaining. Soward believed that time should have been stopped well before it eventually was – with 11 seconds left.

Cecchin told Soward on the field that he had asked time to be stopped 15 seconds earlier.

An NRL spokesman said Cecchin should have blown his whistle when he signalled time off after the dramatic final moments of the match were reviewed on Monday.

"Following the final try by Tom Symonds, the referee called and signalled time off without blowing the whistle," the spokesman said.  "However, because of the immense noise from the crowd and slightly obstructed view, there was a delay of approximately 10 to 14 seconds before the timekeeper became aware time off had been called and stopped the clock.

"The NRL is encouraging referees to blow their whistles when signalling time off in similar situations in the future to ensure they can be more easily heard."

There is one NRL-appointed timekeeper at each match. Manly and Penrith officials refused to comment as the fallout from the Sea Eagles 26-25 win continued. Manly scored two tries in the final three minutes ensuring the minor premiership is now within their grasp after trailing by 16 points at one stage to the Panthers.

Timekeeping and sirens have been an ongoing problem for match officials this season.

Manly were involved in another timekeeping debacle in April at Leichhardt Oval when they were able to manage a final play in the first half, and score a try through skipper Jamie Lyon, despite the clock having counted down to zero.

Tigers skipper Robbie Farah again took aim at the match officials in April, "The same thing happened to us last week," Farah said. "He said he didn't hear it, but that's not good enough. They can't just keep coming up with those errors week in, week out. They've got to be better.

"We were lucky today that it didn't cost us but it's going to cost a team a big game. Not hearing it is not a good enough excuse."

A week later the NRL were left red-faced when the Dragons were robbed of victory against Melbourne when the Storm's Young Tonumaipea played the ball after the game clock had elapsed, and they went on to score a match winner after an extended movement.

In that instance, it was a referee error after the siren sounded less than a second before Melbourne played the ball.  The two competition points have essentially cost St George Illawarra an opportunity of pressing for a top eight  spot.

Timekeepers were given an increased role following the Melbourne debacle, the officials now verbally counting down the final seconds into the on-field referees' ear pieces. The NRL was forced to defend a ground manager last month after allegations he had told a ballboy he had cost Parramatta victory against Canterbury. Instead, the NRL said he had explained the 40/20 rule to the ballboys at the completion of that match but had not abused them in any way.