Despite Jarryd Hayne escaping sanction for his post-game criticism of the referees, the Eels are privately seething about the way their match was controlled following their dramatic loss to Manly on Sunday afternoon.

A number of crucial decisions went against the Eels, who forfeited their slender lead with 49 seconds remaining in the game to lose 22-18 to Manly at Brookvale Oval.

The most contentious was an incorrect play-the-ball by James Hasson two plays before Steve Matai scored the match-winning try. That was one of two instances where inaction by referees Jared Maxwell and Grant Atkins contributed to Sea Eagles tries.

Another irregular play-the-ball by Josh Starling in the seventh minute was again unnoticed as Matai scored his first try of the game. Parramatta interchange prop David Gower was rightly penalised for an incorrect play-the-ball earlier in the match.

While the Eels lost the penalty count 10-4, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said he had few problems with the penalties that his team conceded, but was more frustrated by those his side didn’t receive.

“We got a couple of tough decisions which made it really hard for us against a quality team,” Arthur said on Monday. “When you’re playing teams like that you need a little bit to go your way and nothing went out way in terms of decisions.”

The Eels were also heavily penalised in their round two defeat to the Roosters, losing the count 11-5.

Arthur sent an email to referees boss Tony Archer on Monday morning asking for guidance on areas where his team needs to improve its discipline.

The Eels coach reinforced his stance that his side needed to improve despite the close loss to the Sea Eagles. “At the end of the day, we have to respond and be better and control what we can control,” Arthur said. “We made plenty of line-breaks, and we have to make sure we capitalise on them and improve on some of our execution.

“The referee decisions aren’t an excuse for us. We need to make sure we are better. A few things didn’t go our way but we still have to control what we can control.”

Meanwhile, Hayne has been cleared of any breach of NRL rules for his criticism of the match officials immediately after the narrow defeat.

A furious Hayne labelled the refereeing of the game as "disgraceful" . ‘‘I want to try and hold my tongue,’’ Hayne told Triple M at full-time. ‘‘I can’t believe some of the decisions that were out there. Disgraceful – if I get in trouble for saying that it is a joke.”

Arthur backed Hayne following his emotional outburst. “He was just frustrated and is passionate about trying to win games of footy,” Arthur said.

Hayne was expected to take over the goal-kicking duties on Sunday but hurt his ankle early in the game, handing Joseph Paulo the responsibility. he managed just one conversion from four attempts.

The star fullback won’t train with the Eels until later in the week but is expected to play against Penrith on Saturday.