The referee who sent off St George Illawarra's Jason Ryles has been demoted by the NRL, but that is of little consolation to the defeated Dragons.

Ryles was marched by Gavin Badger in the 25th minute of Monday night's 26-0 loss to Melbourne at Olympic Park for kicking Jeff Lima in the scrum.

Badger had no hesitation in immediately pointing Ryles to an early shower, but referees' boss Robert Finch on Tuesday said it was the wrong decision and banished the five-year experienced whistleblower to the lower grades.

"I think some action needed to be taken but I did not believe a send off was the action that was required," said Finch.

"I think in hindsight he should have taken a bit of time with it.

"He is young referee, it is all part of the learning curve for him.

"It is regrettable, he will go back to the lower grades and do a bit of work there."

The incident came just two minutes after an early brawl where three players were sin-binned.

Melbourne's Billy Slater faces a two week ban and Dragons forward Beau Scott one week for their contrary conduct in the brawl, but the match review committee did not cite Ryles.

The fact Badger was sacked and Ryles cleared has satisfied the Dragons, even if the error virtually robbed them of any chance of competing with the rampant Storm.

"As we said after the game he shouldn't be (cited)," said Brown.

"(With) Rylesy's situation nothing I say or anyone says or writes is going to change anything now."

Ryles was going to talk to the media upon returning to Sydney Airport on Tuesday but was gagged by Brown.

Teammate Ben Hornby however defended Ryles' actions by saying he was reacting to having his foot stomped by Lima.

"He feels he was provoked but it was heat of the battle stuff and what happens out there stays out there," said Hornby.

Brown said the Dragons only concern now is focussing on Monday's clash with the Bulldogs to bounce back from their two successive losses.

"The good part for us as a club was we turned up physically and challenged them and at times we ruffled their feathers a bit and at times they ruffled our feathers a bit," said Brown.

"We just have to get on with bringing the same intensity to the game against the Bulldogs."

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