The touch judge who missed Tim Lafai’s escort on Manly winger Reuben Garrick in the final minute of the Sea Eagles’ loss to St George Illawarra has been dropped.

The NRL confirmed on Tuesday that Nick Beashell – who officiated in last year’s grand final – had been dropped to reserve grade while the referees involved were also relegated into lesser roles.

“In our view the person most primarily responsible for missing that was the touch judge who was standing directly beside it,” the NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley said.