We played poorly and shot ourselves in the foot more than once, but anyone who says that Mr Sutton did not play a part in our loss today, well.....
TWICE players from our side were taken out; once after a kick downfield, by a front on smother tackle from I think Mick Ennis and once after a passs by Josh Reynolds by a pseudo shoulder charge from another Sharks player that left Josh lying on the ground and required his removal from the field for a period of time for attention for a shoulder injury . On neither occasion were the incidents looked at nor were the Sharks penalised . Fast forward to a very crucial time later in the game where Valentine Holmes attempts a field goal which fails and he is hit pretty much simultaneously by Josh Reynolds about 20 metres out from our try line.Result, the player lies on the ground as if hit by a truck and after a delay a penalty kick awarded to the Sharks which is converted putting them eight points ahead...the player who took the kick was the one supposedly injured. It was like watching Black Friday all over again. I thought James Graham was very respectful and subdued in his conversation with Sutton at that time but I could not help thinking respect is a two way street and the smirk on his (Sutton)face as he placed our player on report did not sit well with me nor did the way he spoke earlier to I think it was Josh Reynolds when he told him something along the lines of 'get out of my face'. Imagine a player saying that to a referee; response would be a penalty, a report for dissent and maybe even a sin bin.
14-6 was the penalty count and it was a telling statistic.
No denying that any impetus that we had in the game was quickly cruelled by poor passes and dropped ball on our part, but also on two occasions, when in possession, ( on a rare time that our defence actually had them on the back foot) Cronulla players took time out to lie on the ground apparently injured , once with Luke Lewis who after a substantial delay for attention was able to regain his feet and walk slowly beside the trainer towards the sideline ,pause a foot inside the field of play , only to then turn around and walk slowly back to the play the ball area , take the ball from his team mate and play it. Only after that did he actually leave the playing field for assessment. We had to cool our heels while all this happened.The second; Paul Gallen who lay on the ground clutching at a shoulder only to then after a delay bounce to his feet, play the ball and continue playing as if nothing had happened. Not very sporting in my books but Mr Sutton swallowed it all hook line and sinker.
Our club needs to have a chat to the powers that be at the NRL and ask them for a bit of a fair go, to respect our players, fans and club in the way it wishes us to respect them.
Rant over ( for the time being)