Manly coach Des Hasler has questioned if anyone understands the NRL’s escort rule after his side’s controversial last-ditch loss to St George Illawarra.

The Sea Eagles were left frustrated on fulltime on Saturday after they claimed winger Reuben Garrick was blocked from chasing a last-play kick with the Dragons leading 12-10.

Garrick and Dragons centre Tim Lafai came into contact as the Manly winger attempted to leap for the ball, leaving Jordan Pereira to easily collect a Daly Cherry-Evans kick.

Cherry-Evans immediately questioned the decision not to blow a penalty, which would have given Manly the chance to have a shot at goal to send the game into golden point.

Annoying Hasler even more was the case he had spoken to the NRL just last week to clear up his uncertainty over the rule, after he questioned a decision in last week’s win over Newcastle.

“It goes directly in the face of what they were talking about as far as running defenders off the ball,” Hasler said.

“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. But they won’t rule on an escort there.”

Asked for his understanding on how the rule worked, Hasler responded: “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows.”

The Manly coach said he planned on contacting NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton over the ruling to seek answers this week.

It came just moments after Sea Eagles centre Brad Parker had been penalised for taking a chasing Dragons player off the ball.

Regardless, both teams impressed in the clash.

Manly showed plenty of fight as they took it to the Dragons without strike weapon Tom Trbojevic and front-row weapon Addin Fonua-Blake.

Meanwhile the Dragons were forced to win it with a 6-2 penalty count against them in the second half and just 44 per cent of the ball.

“There was lot of resilience in what we done too,” McGregor said.

“We didn’t get much go our way the whole night. Every time we built a bit of momentum around the ruck we didn’t get anything for it.

“We brought line speed and didn’t get any reward for that. A 6-0 (sic) penalty count in the second half and to find that desire and resilience in our defence when we needed to.

“We had that energy at the right end of the game. You get the rewards and the wins.”