Penha was sent off for allegedly using a forearm to the head of Mariners opponent Harrison Steele during an injury-time melee.

He was red-carded and received a one-game suspension for a similar offence in Perth four weeks ago.

"He's been hit so many times in that game, he retailated," Jets coach Arthur Papas said. "If he has, he should be more disciplined ... there were a lot of moments before that that culminated in that situation."

Mariners coach Nick Montgomery said Penha should have known better.

"I'd be disappointed if that was one of my players, to be honest," Montgomery said.

"It was an elbow in the face. He probably could have been sent off earlier for shouting and swearing at the officials ... that was crazy. They'll miss him, because he's their best player."

The other controversy in Saturday's game, which effectively ended Newcastle's slim finals hopes, was a disallowed goal that snuffed out a brave Jets fightback.

With the Mariners clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Jets appeared to have equalised through a Savvas Siatravanis header in the 83rd minute.

But the VAR ruled no-goal.

"It's a goal," Papas said. "That's it. I don't know how that call is made ... this game shouldn't have been about a refereeing decision."

Montgomery disagreed.

"It was a two-handed push in Kye Rowles' back," Montgomery said. "If he doesn't push him, Kye Rowles heads the ball. The VAR is there for a reason, and it was clear from the live action it was a push on his back."

Jets goalkeeping coach Chris Bowling was red-carded and faces a ban for comments allegedly directed at the match officials after the decision.