A controversial penalty try to Cronulla has helped the Sharks to a 19-18 golden-point extra-time win over the New Zealand Warriors.
Sharks five-eighth James Maloney nailed an ugly drop goal in the second period of extra-time to give Cronulla their 11th in a row, equaling their all-time club record and keeping them at the top of the table.
The Warriors trailed 12-10 eight minutes into the second half when Sharks hooker Michael Ennis put a grubber into the in-goal area with back-rower Jayson Bukuya looking likely to reach the ball first.
Warriors forward Simon Mannering put an arm out to disrupt Bukuya’s run, with Mannering eventually getting back and clearing the ball over the dead ball line.
On-field referee Grant Atkins ruled no try but video officials Matt Cecchin and Bryan Norrie ruled a penalty try – giving the Sharks an 18-10 lead with James Maloney’s conversion from in front of the posts.
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said the decision did not cost his side the match but questioned the interpretation of the rules.
Warriors captain Ryan Hoffman remonstrated with Atkins on the field, questioning if the interpretation had changed, and agreed with his coach after the game.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said it was a brave decision from the officials but admitted he would have been unhappy had the decision gone against his side.
“If the shoe was on the other foot I’d probably be questioning [the decision],” he said.
“I think it was a brave decision by the referees to award it because [Bukuya] would have scored.
“There was no one back there… I think it was Mannering, he knew he was going to score. The only thing that’s in doubt is if he grounds it properly. There’s a little bit of a chance of error there but if they’re going to do it let’s continue to do it for the rest of the year.”
Sharks captain Paul Gallen empathised with the Warriors.
“I didn’t think it’d be a try, to be honest,” he said.
“I thought it was probably a bit of a harsh call against them.”
“But in saying that I thought there’s no doubt Ben Barba’s [disallowed] try in the first half was a try.
“It’s swings and roundabouts, as they say. Sometimes you get some, sometimes you don’t. Fortunately for us we got that one.”
Earlier, the Warriors had skipped out to a 10-0 lead through tries to former Cronulla players Blake Ayshford and Jonathan Wright before the sleepy Sharks, who were slow out of the blocks after their bye, took a 12-10 lead to the break thanks to tries to Michael Ennis and Ricky Leutele.
A Thomas Leuluai try dragged the Warriors back to an 18-16 deficit before an Isacc Luke penalty goal leveled the scores with five minutes remaining.
Both sides created chances in an enthralling first half of extra-time before Maloney slotted a wobbly drop goal from 30 metres out two minutes into the second period.
It was a gutsy win from Cronulla who were far from their best in front of more than 12,000 fans on a chilly night in the shire.
The Sharks lost Valentine Holmes to a hamstring injury midway through the second half, with Flanagan saying the injury looked better than the initial prognosis.
Cronulla paid tribute to club legend Greg Pierce, who died after a long battle with cancer on Friday night, before kick off.
Pierce, the club’s first Australian captain, was named a Sharks Immortal in 2005.
Leader Scoreboard
Cronulla Sharks 19 (Michael Ennis, Ricky Leutele, Jayson Bukuya tries. James Maloney three goals. Maloney field goal)
defeated
New Zealand Warriors 18 (Blake Ayshford, Jonathan Wright, Thomas Leuluai tries. Isaac Luke three goals)
in golden-point extra-time
at Southern Cross Group Stadium, Woolooware
Crowd: 12,074
Leader man of the match: James Maloney (Sharks)
Sharks’ next three: Eels (home), Panthers (away), Roosters (away)
