“He’s [Atkinson] done an enormous job. I feel like he’s had multiple changes throughout his halves combination, and he gets another one, albeit more defensively [in Blayke Brailey],” Fitzgibbon said.

“I think there was a lot of stuff there that wasn’t pretty, but a lot of good stuff as well, and the ability to hang in. We had so many players out of position and still found a way to get it done, so it’s important at this stage of the year.”

Knights coach Adam O’Brien was furious at Sutton’s decision to disallow Ponga’s field goal, and the skipper was left devastated as the Knights’ chances to make the finals were all but quashed.

“Disappointing. I don’t have many words, man,” Ponga said. “That one hurts.”

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Despite having an extra player on the field to start the second half after Crossland was sent to the bin on the half-time siren, Cronulla were unable to capitalise, and the Knights scored eight points before Crossland returned.

Ronaldo Mulitalo helped claw back the Sharks back into the game, with a try to square the scores at 18-18 with seven minutes left on the clock.

Meanwhile, Sharks NRLW player Talei Holmes was stretchered off in her team’s 14-12 win over two-time premiers Newcastle.

Holmes was caught awkwardly in a tackle when she and teammate Ellie Johnston tried to take Shanice Parker to ground. Holmes got caught under Parker and hit the ground head first.