Queensland have questioned whether Super 14 chiefs are turning a blind eye to extra-man bungles after exposing another 16th-man controversy.

In an embarrassing revelation for controlling body SANZAR, Reds coach Phil Mooney on Thursday highlighted a similar replacement gaffe to that which riled Queensland against the Sharks in Durban.

In conducting his pre-match video analysis, Mooney stumbled across another South African side, the Cheetahs, fielding 16 men during their round two home loss to the Western Force.

The Force received a penalty for the initial 53rd minute breach which ultimately proved to be a match-winner as Matt Giteau kicked the goal and they prevailed 16-15.

"The Cheetahs were leading 12-10 and their flyhalf goes down injured in back-play, so while the game's on the reserve just runs on and is involved in the play," Mooney told AAP.

"I wasn't even trying and there's a second occasion where the fourth official hasn't really fulfilled his role to the required standard.

"So whether it's something (SANZAR) turn a blind eye to, I don't know."

The normally reserved Mooney was also left fuming by SANZAR's failure to acknowledge receipt of the Reds' comprehensive report into the Sharks playing with 16 men for two minutes late in Queensland's 22-10 loss on Sunday (AEDT).

The Reds have been roundly criticised for their complaint in South Africa but Mooney said they merely wanted professional handling of replacements to ensure a level playing field.

"We never wanted the Sharks stripped of points, we just thought it was an unacceptable situation where there were 16 men on the field in this day and age," he said.

"We just didn't want to have it happen again.

"But the silence (from SANZAR) is deafening at the moment."

For the second night in a row, a phone hook-up between leading officials in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand failed to eventuate with match officials reports still not completed.

While NRL sideline officials keep an iron-like grip on interchange players who can enter during play in rugby league, rugby's fourth officials are supposed to notify the touch judge of a replacement who can enter at the break of play.

Reserve hooker Craig Burden entered the field after the Sharks third try when the touch judges were behind the Reds posts and a SANZAR official said on Thursday referee Chris Pollock ruled correctly at the time with a full-arm penalty.

Queensland were also gob-smacked the law determined that was the only punishment for a replacement breach and called for an immediate change to prevent deliberate repeats.

"If they (the Sharks) scored a try the referee (Pollock) said the try would have stood and we would have got a penalty at the restart on half-way, well gee fantastic!" Mooney exclaimed.

"What's to say you don't run 16 men on at the death, score a try and concede a penalty, who cares?"

While the Sharks may escape scot free for the fiasco, England were fined more than $20,000 for having a 16th man at the 2003 World Cup in a game against Samoa, when Dan Luger was on the field for just six seconds.

North Queensland lost two competition points for a similar breach in the NRL in 2000.

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