Otago coach Tony Brown is probably inclined to agree with that evaluation.
Brown was bitterly disappointed by his side's 29-24 loss to Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup Championship semifinal at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday and laid some of the blame with the officials.
In his opinion, the TMO got it wrong when he disallowed Lee Allan's try for a double movement 20 minutes into the first half.
He also was not thrilled with the penalty count against Otago which allowed talented five-eighth Ihaia West to knock over five penalties.
''I'm just really frustrated,'' Brown said shortly after the game.
''We weren't allowed to get our game going and, when we did get it going at the end, the passes didn't quite stick for us and we just rushed things.
''Hawkes Bay attacked the breakdown and if the referee lets them get away with it, they are a very hard team to play against. There were just so many calls that didn't go our way.
''That try ... was a try pretty much to everyone who watches the game. It happens all the time where a guy gets pushed over the line. It wasn't the player who double-moved, it was the momentum from behind that got him over the line. It was a clear-as-day try.''
''The officiating was terrible and I don't mind saying it because I think everyone in the stadium saw it.''
Otago captain Paul Grant was more reserved in his assessment.
''Nothing seemed to be going our way to be honest but I'm not one for blaming the ref. I thought there were a couple of tough calls but, yeah ...''
Grant said, trailing off.
''He [Lee Allan] thought it was a try. I thought it was a try. I went close the phase before. It ended up being a big moment in the game. It would have been great to have scored then.''
Otago made the final last year, so being tipped out in the semifinal represents a backwards step. However, the province did end its 56-year drought by winning the Ranfurly Shield.
It basked in the glory for nine days until Hawkes Bay brought the party to an end with a dramatic 20-19 victory.
Yesterday's win was more emphatic. The visiting side dominated possession and territory for large chunks of the first half, and it was not until it made a series of changes late in the game the home team started to make an impression.
''It was awesome to win the shield and I thought we were good enough to win [yesterday] but things did not go our way,'' Brown said.
''But we've promoted a lot of guys to the next level - Super Rugby.
''And as a coach I could not be prouder of my team.''
Hawkes Bay will travel to Nelson to play Tasman in the championship final. Tasman booked a home venue with a comprehensive 49-28 win against Southland.
In the premiership final, Wellington will host five-time defending champion Canterbury.
Canterbury will go into the final with confidence after dispatching Auckland 56-26 in the semifinal.
Colin Hawke, of course, is infamous in these parts for awarding a penalty try to Auckland in the 1995 NPC final against Otago.
