Gold Coast coach John Cartwright claimed a controversial ruling to award St George Illawarra fullback Darius Boyd a try after a referee fell in front of two Titans defenders was "critical" to the outcome of Saturday night's NRL game.

The Dragons won 25-16 at Skilled Park but the talking point was video referee Steve Clark's decision to award Boyd the try after referee Phil Haines stumbled and fell as both fullback William Zillman and Titans captain Scott Prince tried to defend Jamie Soward's kick.

An NRL official later told reporters Clark had been unable to make a decision under the "mutual infringement" rule which covers the ball coming into contact with a referee or a the attacking player with the ball making contact with the referee.

There is no rule that covers the defending playing coming into contact with the referee.

"It didn't cost us the game, but it was critical," Cartwright said.

"A lot of things happen in the course of 80 minutes but it was critical. It (margin) went from seven points to 13 points along with a lot of momentum."

Prince agreed, with his coach saying it was a tough call to make.

"I just remember one ref said to the other ref: `just check that, I think I got in the way'."

Cartwright watched a replay of the incident after the game and felt there was no doubt Zillman was impeded in his effort to get to Soward's kick before Boyd arrived on the scene.

"There's no doubt that the ref was between the ball and Zillman and that Zillman had eyes for the ball and was going to swallow it," said Cartwright.

"You've got to draw your own conclusions. To the letter of the law, I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think there is somewhere in the rules that allows for the spirit of the game or commonsense you would hope."

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett said he felt a try would be awarded at the time.

"I thought 'they can't take that off him, they ran into the ref," said Bennett after the game.

"The ref had taken his position, that's why I think we got the try."

Bennett was full of praise for centre Matt Cooper, who celebrated his 200th game with a win and was given a standing ovation by his teammates as he left the field in front of a sea of red and white jumpers.

"I was pleased for Matt, it's a wonderful milestone," said Bennett, who convinced the Shellharbour junior not to go overseas in 2009 when he arrived at the club.

The Dragons got the jump on the Gold Coast and led 12-0 after tries to hooker Nathan Fien and back-rower Ben Creagh before the Titans crossed just before halftime through centre Steve Michaels, who cashed in after Boyd spilled a Prince bomb.

Soward, whose kicking game was brilliant, snapped a 30-metre metre field goal soon after halftime to extend the lead to 13-6 before Boyd's try drew jeers and boos from Titans fans in the 21,000-strong crowd.

"We were still jet-lagged," said Bennett of his players who two weeks ago were in freezing conditions in the UK beating Wigan for the world club championship.

"Ten days ago we were in zero temperatures and it was humid tonight. We tough it out and hung in."

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