Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has joined the growing calls for a clear-cut ruling on rugby league’s controversial obstruction law.

The issue reared its ugly head on Sunday when Gold Coast centre Steve Michaels scored a match-turning try at Skilled Park, despite the hint of an obstruction by teammate Luke O’Dwyer.

The Eels, trailing 14-10 before video referee Rod Lawrence awarded the try, were fuming at the post-match press conference.

“Does anyone know what the rule is? Am I allowed to say that?” Eels veteran Nathan Hindmarsh asked.

He then added with a cheeky grin: “It’s a grey area.”

Eels coach Brad Arthur then interjected: “Are you allowed to run behind your player and score a try? We definitely need to get an answer of what the ruling is.

“There needs to be a rule that we can all work off.”

It comes after the Wests Tigers were furious that video referee Sean Hampstead awarded a try to Canterbury winger Jonathan Wright on Friday night, despite strong protests for an obstruction by Josh Morris on Tigers’ defender Blake Ayshford.

It proved to be costly as the Bulldogs won 23-22, leaving the Tigers clinging to their top eight spot. Not surprisingly, Titans coach John Cartwright believed the Michaels try was fair.

“You’ve got to impede a defender and there was no defender impeded,” he said.

But Titans skipper Scott Prince admitted the rule interpretations were causing confusion.

“If they’re going to give it the benefit of the doubt or the green light, play on I say,” the halfback said.

“You look at any decision and it can go either way.

“It’s more confusing for the punters at home that watch and now it’s even confusing for the players and coaches but that’s not my problem at the moment.”