NRL head of football Graham Annesley has revealed Penrith could have won Saturday night’s golden point thriller against Newcastle in regulation time, admitting referee Peter Gough would have been within his rights to award a rare three-point field goal.

The Panthers were trailing by one point in the 77th minute of the Round 7 clash when captain Nathan Cleary successfully booted a field goal to even the scores at 15-15.

Cleary was taken out late by Knights forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon as he booted the one-pointer, causing a melee that took several minutes to sort out, but no penalty was blown.

The 25-year-old ultimately clinched victory in golden point with a 39-metre field goal, breaking the hearts of all 26,084 Newcastle supporters McDonald Jones Stadium.

Annesley condemned Fitzgibbon’s actions during his weekly football briefing on Monday afternoon, pointing out his “unnecessary” late hit could have cost Newcastle the match.

“There is also a thing called the three-point field goal, if a player is fouled in the act of kicking a field goal,” Annesley said.

“The contact here is not heavy, it’s not even serious in terms of foul play, but it could have easily bought a penalty.

“This game could have ended before it even went into extra time.

“In another game in a similar situation, that could have been ruled a foul on a kicker after a field goal, and that could have resulted in a penalty kick right in front of the posts. Instead of your one point, you gets three points.

“It’s just an unnecessary action that risks a team losing the game … it didn’t have to happen.”

The competition’s most recent three-point field goal took place during the Round 18 contest between Norths and Newtown in 1982.