Turner has been stood down from duties this weekend, meaning he will not collect the $1000 match fee for sideline officials, and the NRL fined the Knights the same amount as a result of a verbal exchange between Turner and at least one unidentified member of the Knights' coaching staff in the final minutes of Newcastle's 44-20 loss to Manly at Gosford last Friday.

After Turner ruled a forward pass from Newcastle's Matt Hilder to Danny Wicks in the 74th minute, it is understood a Knights official said from the interchange bench: "You've had one decision to make all night and you've stuffed it up."

Replays on the Channel Nine television coverage and on the video screen at Bluetongue Stadium then showed Turner, who ran the line in the second State of Origin game in Sydney last month, mimicking wiping tears from his eyes.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said the war of words continued after full-time as players and officials proceeded up the tunnel to the dressing-rooms.

Annesley said he investigated the incident and took action because the Knights lodged a complaint against Turner and not as a result of it being highlighted by television cameras.

"Who said what was really irrelevant. The fact that there was an exchange between them meant that, initially the Knights were in the wrong for making comments to the touch judge while he was carrying out his duty," Annesley said.

"But the fact that he responded and didn't just let them go through to the keeper then report the incident later meant that he was equally at fault and, consequently, that's why we took action against both the club and the touch judge."

Annesley indicated Turner's involvement saved the Knights from a stiffer penalty.

"The touch judge by his actions further exacerbated the problem, and that's why we haven't gone as heavily on the Knights as we might have otherwise," he said.