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."
There, Atkinson slotted the match-winner from 20 metres out with 30 seconds remaining in the first Golden Point period.
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.
Check out our live blog below for a full recap of all of Sunday's NRL action.
With AAP
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By Chris De Silva
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
Here's a look at some team stats from that thriller between the Sharks and Knights.
By Chris De Silva
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."
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
We're a couple of minutes into the first Golden Point period and both teams' defences holding up.
The Knights have the ball back.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
Dan Atkinson drills the field goal but another blocking penalty is called, this time against the Sharks!
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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!
By Chris De Silva
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?
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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.
By Chris De Silva
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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