In a dramatic finish in Wollongong, the Sea Eagles led the Dragons 10-8 until Ben Hunt grubber kicked for winger Mikaele Ravalawa to score with three minutes to play.

It left the Sea Eagles one set to strike back. After retrieving the ball from a short kick off, Cherry-Evans kicked overhead for winger Reuben Garrick on the siren.

Play was stopped before full-time was called as the referees debated whether to blow a penalty following contact between Garrick and Tim Lafai as Jordan Pereira marked the ball.

"That last kick, the escort, I will be taking that to (referees boss) Bernie Sutton," Hasler said.

"It goes directly in the face of what they were talking about as far as running defenders off the ball.

"It's not consistent with what they've been saying.

"They spoke to us during the week about it. We questioned one the week before so it's a bit confusing when they say these are the guidelines on the escort."

Making matters worse for the Sea Eagles was the fact centre Brad Parker had minutes earlier been penalised for taking Euan Aitken off the ball, only for Lafai to miss a penalty goal that would've tied the scores 10-10.

Hasler claimed that was "even more innocuous" and questioned if anyone understood the rule.

It came after Cherry-Evans vented his frustration at referee David Munro on-field.

"It was black and white, there was an escort, a player taken off the ball," he was heard saying.

"You were willing to make the hard call when game wasn't on the line but unfortunately that call needed to be made."

Hunt and Norman put on a kicking masterclass in what was the Dragons' fourth straight win.

Hunt also grubber-kicked for Matt Dufty to score the Dragons' first try while he and Norman forced three line dropouts between them and racked up four other repeat sets.

"His kicking tonight was as good as it's been," coach Paul McGregor said of Hunt.

"His game management has been good. I think the option there with Normy on the left and Benny on the right left and right kicker either side of the ruck."

Hunt said this week he was still hopeful of wearing the Queensland No.7 jersey ahead of Cherry-Evans.

However DCE was just as good for the Sea Eagles, setting up one try and scoring another.

He hit Brad Parker with a flat ball before the break to cut the deficit to four and was the beneficiary of a tunnel ball from rookie Corey Waddell to give Manly an unlikely 10-8 lead before Hunt's late heroics.

Australian Associated Press