Melbourne prop Brett White has denied grapple tackling Anthony Quinn after the Newcastle winger blamed the tactic for lashing out at a sideline official in the Knights' 24-16 NRL loss at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

With his team trailing by just two points with 27 minutes remaining, Quinn unleashed a verbal barrage at touch judge Russell Turner to concede a penalty when his side was in possession.

"He's using four letter words and I won't cop that," Turner complained to referee Paul Simpkins, who awarded a penalty.

From the ensuing set of six, Storm second rower Jeremy Smith scored a try which proved to be the difference between the teams.

Quinn later admitted to reporters he abused Turner after the official ignored his pleas to police alleged grapple tackles.

"It wasn't around the neck, it was around the face," Quinn said of the contentious tackles.

"There were plenty of times there were grapple tackles and I was right next to (Turner).

"These days you can't even look at the touchie when something happens, so I'll just have to keep my mouth shut from now on."

The accusation struck a raw nerve with the Storm, who have been accused in past seasons of grappling in order to slow down play the balls.

At the start of the year, the NRL also announced it was cracking down on the tactic, where defenders wrap their arms around the head or neck of their opponent.

White admitted he was involved in one of the contentious tackles but denied grappling Quinn.

"Unfortunately he's got to say things like that," White said.

"It's sad he has to bring things like that up."

Storm second rower David Kidwell was adamant the tactic was not employed by the Storm.

"No, 100 per cent," Kidwell said.

"We get the finger pointed at us a lot ... when the opposition complains about our tackles it's probably because we're taking the game to them."

Quinn, playing against the team he'll join next year, scored two tries - including a 71st minute to get his side within two - to almost redeem himself, but a late try to Storm forward Ryan Hoffman snuffed out any hopes of a comeback.

It wasn't the only contentious call from a thrilling match, with Knights coach Michael Hagan upset Simpkins awarded a try to Billy Slater without checking with the video referee if he was on side.

"I thought he was probably a metre in front," Hagan said.

"If they got that one wrong I'm pretty dirty."

Melbourne defended brilliantly to keep the Knights at bay for the final nine minutes, repelling wave after wave of attack while clinging to a two-point lead, before a late try to Ryan Hoffman got them home.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was pleased with the win, which gave the Victorian club a six-point buffer at the top of the competition ladder.

"We have that self-belief, especially when they get inside our 20 in defence, that everyone is working for each other and whatever they come up with we'll find a way to snuff it out.

The only bad news for the visitors was another injury to luckless forward Ben Cross, who suffered medial ligament damage in his first touch of the ball and is likely to be out for the season.

The Knights, meanwhile, cling to eighth spot, with coach Michael Hagan lamenting his team's lack of discipline.

"You obviously can't talk to an official at any stage, we probably have to wear that," he said of the Quinn incident.

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