High tackles again in spotlight as Dragons fall in golden point thriller

High tackles are again the centre of attention in the NRL after three more sin bins in the Dragons golden point loss to Cronulla. St George Illawarra had a chance to attempt a match-winning field goal midway through extra time, Corey Norman instead opting to run the ball before a meek kick turned the ball over. It was a decision the side would rue, the Sharks breaking through from the ensuing set through Hiroti, before Townsend had a shot at field goal of his own. It was charged down, however he received another chance moments later and this time he made no mistake. Dragons coach Anthony Griffin was proud of his side’s effort, but conceded the match was one they let slip. “Wild is a good way to explain it,” Griffin said. “We had our chances to win it. I was really proud of the effort and what we displayed out there to keep ourselves in the game. “It was wild that last 15 minutes, we had a chance to win the football game, unfortunately we didn’t.” There may have been few points throughout the 84-minute encounter, however it was an eventful contest. On top of the three sin bins, eight players were put on report while both sides were willing to chance their arm in attack. Griffin admitted he was confused by the use of the sin bin, some players avoiding time off the field for hits that appeared serious. “It’s confusing. The tackle on Cody (Ramsey) if that happened in Brisbane last weekend, someone would get sent off. “I said last week, as long as they’re consistent, everyone will be happy. We see tonight, there’s mass confusion as to what’s 10 minutes, what’s a send off, what’s a penalty. Every time we pull up for a scrum, there’s a report. “I’m not criticising, but if we’re going to go down this path, it’s going to end up like that.” Paul Vaughan was the first to go to the bin in the 22nd minute for a high shot on Will Chambers. The Sharks centre was hit low by Andrew McCullough before Vaughan made contact with his head, the referee Ben Cummins initially ruling play on. Read more: McKeon confident best is yet to come as Olympics loom Chambers stayed down to attract a penalty, the bunker intervening to sin bin the St George Illawarra prop. Chambers, however, was able to stay on the field, commentators questioning whether he should have been forced off for a HIA. The incident came with the Sharks leading 6-0 courtesy of a 10th-minute Connor Tracey try, the hosts looking to extend their advantage with the extra main. The Dragons held firm, however, before the match sparked to life in the final minute of the first half. Ben Hunt made a pair of try-saving plays, the latter leading to Cody Ramsey racing 70 metres before he was collected high by Mawene Hiroti. The contact also attracted a sin bin, Norman landing a penalty goal to cut the deficit to four at the break. The tackle ended Ramsey’s night, the fullback failing an HIA before Jaiyden Hunt’s debut also ended in concussion just seconds into the second half. The injuries saw Adam Clune move into the halves, Norman shift to the back and Daniel Alvaro come into the game as 18th man. St George Illawarra were able to capitalise on the extra player, Max Feagai crossing to level the scores in the 41st minute. Cronulla held firm for the remainder of Hiroti’s sin bin, before Josh Dugan was dealt the same punishment for a high shot on Billy Burns in the 52nd minute. The tackle left the Dragons backrower bloodied, Dugan fortunate not to be sent off. St George Illawarra immediately made the most of the extra man, Feagai latching on to a Hunt kick to score his second. The Sharks were not to be deterred, however, Will Kennedy crossing while Dugan was off the field before Townsend converted to put his side in front. Bird levelled the scores with five minutes to play before he spilled the ball to hand the Sharks a chance to secure the win. Townsend stepped up for the one-pointer, only to be denied by McCullough. The hooker’s effort led to a Norman field goal attempt that was waved wide right, before the Sharks made the most elementary of errors from the tap restart. The playmaker had a second shot with four seconds remaining, this time missing to the left. And with that, the match went to golden point. There, Townsend made no mistake, handing his team the victory.

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High tackles are again the centre of attention in the NRL after three more sin bins in the Dragons golden point loss to Cronulla.

St George Illawarra had a chance to attempt a match-winning field goal midway through extra time, Corey Norman instead opting to run the ball before a meek kick turned the ball over.

It was a decision the side would rue, the Sharks breaking through from the ensuing set through Hiroti, before Townsend had a shot at field goal of his own.

It was charged down, however he received another chance moments later and this time he made no mistake.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin was proud of his side’s effort, but conceded the match was one they let slip.

“Wild is a good way to explain it,” Griffin said. “We had our chances to win it. I was really proud of the effort and what we displayed out there to keep ourselves in the game.

“It was wild that last 15 minutes, we had a chance to win the football game, unfortunately we didn’t.”

There may have been few points throughout the 84-minute encounter, however it was an eventful contest.

On top of the three sin bins, eight players were put on report while both sides were willing to chance their arm in attack.

Griffin admitted he was confused by the use of the sin bin, some players avoiding time off the field for hits that appeared serious.

“It’s confusing. The tackle on Cody (Ramsey) if that happened in Brisbane last weekend, someone would get sent off.

“I said last week, as long as they’re consistent, everyone will be happy. We see tonight, there’s mass confusion as to what’s 10 minutes, what’s a send off, what’s a penalty. Every time we pull up for a scrum, there’s a report.

“I’m not criticising, but if we’re going to go down this path, it’s going to end up like that.”

Paul Vaughan was the first to go to the bin in the 22nd minute for a high shot on Will Chambers.

The Sharks centre was hit low by Andrew McCullough before Vaughan made contact with his head, the referee Ben Cummins initially ruling play on.

Chambers stayed down to attract a penalty, the bunker intervening to sin bin the St George Illawarra prop. Chambers, however, was able to stay on the field, commentators questioning whether he should have been forced off for a HIA.

The incident came with the Sharks leading 6-0 courtesy of a 10th-minute Connor Tracey try, the hosts looking to extend their advantage with the extra main.

The Dragons held firm, however, before the match sparked to life in the final minute of the first half.

Ben Hunt made a pair of try-saving plays, the latter leading to Cody Ramsey racing 70 metres before he was collected high by Mawene Hiroti.

The contact also attracted a sin bin, Norman landing a penalty goal to cut the deficit to four at the break.

The tackle ended Ramsey’s night, the fullback failing an HIA before Jaiyden Hunt’s debut also ended in concussion just seconds into the second half.

The injuries saw Adam Clune move into the halves, Norman shift to the back and Daniel Alvaro come into the game as 18th man.

St George Illawarra were able to capitalise on the extra player, Max Feagai crossing to level the scores in the 41st minute.

Cronulla held firm for the remainder of Hiroti’s sin bin, before Josh Dugan was dealt the same punishment for a high shot on Billy Burns in the 52nd minute.

The tackle left the Dragons backrower bloodied, Dugan fortunate not to be sent off.

St George Illawarra immediately made the most of the extra man, Feagai latching on to a Hunt kick to score his second.

The Sharks were not to be deterred, however, Will Kennedy crossing while Dugan was off the field before Townsend converted to put his side in front.

Bird levelled the scores with five minutes to play before he spilled the ball to hand the Sharks a chance to secure the win.

Townsend stepped up for the one-pointer, only to be denied by McCullough.

The hooker’s effort led to a Norman field goal attempt that was waved wide right, before the Sharks made the most elementary of errors from the tap restart.

The playmaker had a second shot with four seconds remaining, this time missing to the left. And with that, the match went to golden point.

There, Townsend made no mistake, handing his team the victory.