Overnight wrap: Joey, refs & Grimaldi

Newcastle has until midday to decide whether to contest captain Andrew Johns' contrary conduct charge for apparently swearing at a touch judge.

The Knights' premiership campaign is in strife with Johns set to miss at least three games, including the first week of the NRL finals. The sixth-placed Knights have a woeful record without their skipper and only the top two sides are guaranteed a second week in the finals.

The NRL conceded the match officials made a mistake with the ruling that prompted the outburst but yesterday fined Newcastle $5,000 for comments made by coach Michael Hagan supporting Johns. Johns admits swearing but denies his words were directed at touch judge Matt Cechin.

Referees boss Robert Finch says officials were wrong not to call a knock-on late in Manly's controversial win over Newcastle on Friday.

Referee Paul Simpkins and touch judge Matt Cecchin failed to spot a Steve Matai knock-on in the final minute of the game, won 16-14 by Manly, which led to Knights skipper Andrew Johns swearing at the officials.

Johns has since been charged with grade three contrary-conduct for his outburst and could face up to four matches on the sideline. But Finch in his weekly referees report says the decision was incorrect, despite acknowledging both Simpkins and Cecchin had their views of the incident obscured by players.

Meanwhile, Finch says referee Steve Clark was correct not to award the Wests Tigers an offside penalty in extra-time during their dramatic loss on Sunday, using frame-by-frame video pictures to show Raiders' halfback Todd Carney was onside.

Elsewhere, Bulldogs forward Tony Grimaldi claims comments he made today about players swearing at NRL officials have been taking out of context.

Several television news stations last night showed footage of Grimaldi saying players should be able to swear at the touchie if the decision's wrong.

But after viewing the footage, Grimaldi phoned the NRL claiming the comments had been taken out of context. NRL chief executive David Gallop did not wish to comment on Grimaldi's thoughts.