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Posted:
2024-08-18 03:54:04
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-18/nrl-round-24-dragons-titans-sharks-knights-live-blog/104239694
Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien has hit out at veteran match referee Gerard Sutton over two contentious calls that went against his side in a Golden Point loss to the Cronulla Sharks.
Sharks halfback Dan Atkinson converted on a Golden Point field goal to seal Cronulla's 19-18 defeat of a gallant Newcastle that all but ends the Knights' NRL finals hopes on Sunday afternoon.
In regulation time, the Knights and Sharks were each denied game-winning field goals for placing illegal blockers in the other sides' defence, with Kalyn Ponga and Atkinson's celebrations both in vain. O'Brien suggested both field goals should have been allowed.
"I thought theirs was a field goal as well," he said.
"They (the referees) come up over the summer and say as long as the person is in an onside position to receive the ball (it will not warrant an illegal blocking call). In our case it was Matt Croker. If the (hooker) doesn't pass to our goalkicker (Ponga) and passes to Crokes, it's not a forward pass, he's in an onside position.
"That's how they explained it to us. But (NRL head of football) Graham (Annesley) will find a way to dress it up."
After Newcastle's Phoenix Crossland missed a field goal at the other end in the Golden Point period, the Knights raced deep into the Sharks' half through winger Sione Katoa.
There, Atkinson slotted the match-winner from 20 metres out with 30 seconds remaining in the first Golden Point period.
The win keeps an error-prone Cronulla a win inside the top four and means the Knights are now unable to finish the season with a winning record — usually the benchmark for a top-eight finish.
Newcastle could still sneak into the post-season, but it would require a multitude of results falling their way, and likely also a significant improvement in their inferior for-and-against (-90).
Without injured halves Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes, the Sharks struggled for attacking polish after rushing out to a 10-0 lead against a violent Cronulla breeze.
In total, Cronulla made 17 errors on Sunday afternoon.
Playing for its season, Newcastle threatened to clear the biggest hurdle on the road to a fairytale finals berth when they took an 18-10 lead after being reduced to 12 men on the half-time siren when Sutton sent Crossland to the sin bin for a professional foul.
Sutton deemed Crossland had denied Cronulla's Jesse Ramien a chance to get up to play the ball before the half-time siren as the Knights defended their own try line. While he didn't necessarily disagree with the foul call, O'Brien was baffled that it warranted a sin-binning.
"Shocked if anybody agreed (with the decision)," he said.
"That was the third infringement for the half. I think we had one for offside in a scrum, which happens a lot, and we only had one for slowing the ruck down, and on the third one he (Sutton) puts a bloke in the bin.
"Is that a harsh standard? I haven't seen that all year and I was shocked. This team is fighting to stay in the competition and then you get that done to you, like fair dinkum.
"I've seen teams (infringe) multiple times on their try line and usually someone gets warned that it's going to go there (a sin bin decision). He went there on the third penalty, it's ridiculous."
Cronulla finally overcame its knack for dropping the ball in attacking territory when left winger Ronaldo Mulitalo crossed on an overlap in his first game back from a knee injury.
With seven minutes to play, Atkinson nailed the sideline conversion that sent the game into Golden Point.
But he saved his most important strike for later.
The match-winner caps a remarkable season for Atkinson, who had played one NRL game from the bench in 2022 prior to firming as a reliable first-grader at the injury-hit Sharks this season.
Earlier on Sunday, the St George Illawarra Dragons used their highest-scoring half of football in two years to defeat the Gold Coast Titans 32-16 after scoring 26 points in a blistering first-half performance, the club's best mark for a half of football in the last two seasons.
Check out our live blog below for a full recap of all of Sunday's NRL action.
With AAP
A look at the NRL ladder after Round 24
Round 24 of the NRL season is officially books and here's how things are poised, and where the Sharks and Knights stand after that result.
A massive win for Cronulla in its bid to finish the season with the double-chance.
Final stats from Shark Park
Here's a look at some team stats from that thriller between the Sharks and Knights.
- All Run Metres: Cronulla 1893-1558
- Post Contact Metres: Cronulla 635-485
- Tackle Breaks: Cronulla 45-28
- Offloads: Cronulla 16-14
- Total Passes: Cronulla 296-229
- Tackles: Newcastle 378-338
- Missed Tackles: Newcastle 45-29
- Errors: Cronulla 17-12
FT: Atkinson wins it for the Sharks in Golden Point
DAN ATKINSON WITH THE GAME-WINNER!
There was just a minute left in the first Golden Point period, and after being denied in regulation due to a blocking call, Atkinson won't be denied this time.
What a brilliant game, what a win!
Atkinson's response when asked what went through his head as he took that kick is hilarious.
"Gotta get this," he tells Fox League.
"I had the wind going right to left, I'm a right to left kicker, and the wind did its job."
84' Crossland misses field goal attempt
Phoenix Crossland with the first attempt on goal in Golden Point and he misses to the right.
Strange decision for Crossland to take that kick.
83' Kennedy intercepts would-be try
Will Kennedy with the terrific intercept as Dane Gagai broke through the line and attempted to dish it off to Ponga.
Unfortunately for the Sharks, Kennedy's not able to hold onto the footy, so it's a knock-on and Knights ball.
82' Both teams unable to score with first sets
We're a couple of minutes into the first Golden Point period and both teams' defences holding up.
The Knights have the ball back.
Knights win the coin toss ahead of Golden Point
Massive win for Kalyn Ponga and the Knights as they're going to have the wind behind them in extra time.
The Knights will have the first set as well with the Sharks kicking off.
FT: Match headed to Golden Point after manic finish
What a finish with the two penalties, identical calls at either end of the field.
Both Kalyn Ponga and Dan Atkinson thought they'd won it before Gerard Sutton had other thoughts.
We're headed to Golden Point. The toss is going to be so crucial here given the wind.
79' Penalty against the Sharks on a field goal
Dan Atkinson drills the field goal but another blocking penalty is called, this time against the Sharks!
78' Knights give away penalty on field goal attempt
The Knights get within scoring distance, but give away a penalty as Kalyn Ponga took a shot at goal!
Gerard Sutton rules that Will Kennedy was blocked by one of Ponga's teammates.
Ball to Cronulla.
77' Ponga's misread almost costs Knights
Oh my goodness the Knights are so lucky here!
A high kick from Atkinson is completely misread by Ponga, who lets it bounce and Ronaldo Mulitalo almost pounces.
Luckily for the Knights, the ball bounces out of play.
76' Field goal an option for both teams
As we head into the final few minutes here with the scores level, both teams could opt for a field goal to win it.
The Sharks definitely have a better chance of this though given the wind going to their end of the field.
If the scores are level, we will head to Golden Point.
75' Mulitalo finally breaks the shackles for Sharks
The Sharks have their first try of the second half!
Ronaldo Mulitalo grounds the ball in the left corner while he's wrapped up by Fletcher Sharpe juuuuuuust before his elbow hits the sideline.
A lovely pass in the lead-up from Will Kennedy and then a great offload from Talakai finds Mulitalo in the corner.
It's been a proper self-destruction this from the Knights after they took that eight point lead down a man.
Atkinson with the inch-perfect conversion kick and the scores are level with five minutes left!
70' Sharks hampered by errors but still alive
We're into the final 10 minutes here at Shark Park, and it's still anyone's game!
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon will be frustrated by his team's errors so far in this half because this match is there for the taking.
The Knights just continue to cough up the ball around the halfway line.
Does anyone want to win this game?
63' Atkinson converts penalty to keep Sharks in touch
Dan Atkinson scores some much-needed points for the Sharks!
Newcastle were defending well for the last few minutes, but then give away a careless penalty.
The Sharks opt to go for the two points and Atkinson makes no mistake on the penalty goal.
Newcastle's lead trimmed to a single converted try. Plenty of time left for the Sharks.
53' Mulitalo comes up limping after tackle
Some injury concerns here for the Sharks as Ronaldo Mulitalo comes up limping after a tackle.
Mulitalo was wrapped up by Fletcher Sharpe in an aggressive tackle and clutches at his left knee as he gets up.
The Sharks star's left leg is heavily strapped due to the knee issues he's had this year.
The good news for the Sharks is that he's staying out there despite looking a little proppy.
49' Gagai slices through Sharks defence for another try
The Knights continue to add to the lead despite being undermanned!
The ball gets flicked out to the right edge and Dane Gagai absolutely does Sifa Talakai cold with a lovely step inboard, and he beats two more defenders to score Newcastle's third try of the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Crossland is now back on the field so the Knights have their full group back together again.
Ponga unable to convert Gagai's try, so Newcastle's lead stays at eight points.
45' Ponga extends the lead after penalty
The Knights extend the lead despite being down a man!
They get a penalty and could've attempted to go for a try, but instead decide to go for the two points.
Ponga drills the penalty goal and that's another boost for the Sharks with Phoenix Crossland just a few minutes away from coming back on now.
43' Ponga's incredible try-saver preserves lead
Kalyn Ponga doing it on both ends for the Knights!
Some lovely passing from the Sharks and Siosifa Talakai looks certain to give his side the lead again.
However, just as he's about the ground the ball, Ponga flies in out of nowhere to bump him and Talakai is unable to ground the ball cleanly.
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