May 5, 2013, 4:42 p.m.
Impenetrable in defence: Newcastle's Willie Mason is held off Cronulla's line. Photo: Jonathan Carroll
Cronulla's Todd Carney in action. Photo: Jonathan Carroll
Cronulla overcame the loss of skipper Paul Gallen in the opening exchanges to end a four-game losing streak with a 21-20 golden-point victory against Newcastle at Hunter Stadium on Sunday. Gallen limped off in the third minute and spent the rest of the match on the sideline with an ice pack strapped to his right knee.
The NSW skipper is expected to have scans on Monday to determine the severity of the damage but would appear in doubt for the Origin series opener on June 5. In his absence, Cronulla – whose whole season has been clouded by the ASADA investigation into alleged drug taking – battled bravely to notch their third win in eight games and their first win since March 24.
For the second week in a row, Newcastle found themselves playing against a wounded opponent from early in proceedings. In their previous win, a 30-6 hammering of the Gold Coast, the Titans lost Ashley Harrison, Luke O'Dwyer and Matt Srama in the first 12 minutes and none were able to return.
Gallen's departure appeared likely to have a similarly debilitating effect on the Sharks, especially when Knights centre Dane Gagai scored almost immediately. But after facing an early 8-0 deficit, the Sharks hit back to equalise through two tries by centre and Knights junior Jonathan Wright.
The second of Wright's tries was highly contentious. Back-rower Wade Graham appeared to knock on a Jeff Robson grubber before Wright forced it in goal, but video referees Shayne Hayne and Paul Mellor gave it the green light.
Newcastle grabbed the ascendancy two minutes before half-time when bench forward David Fa'alogo crashed over and skipper Kurt Gidley converted. But Cronulla made it 14-14 four minutes after the interval when winger Beau Ryan crossed and fullback Michael Gordon landed his first conversion of the day.
The Sharks hit the lead in the 60th minute with a Todd Carney try. Gordon added the extras to make it 20-14 to the visitors. But nine minutes later, it was all square again when the Knights ran the ball on the last tackle, halfback Tyrone Roberts scored and Gidley goaled.
Both teams traded a host of field goal attempts in the dying seconds of regular time but were unable to break the deadlock, forcing the match into over-time. Cronulla halfback Jeff Robson sealed a much-needed win in the fourth minute of golden point with a dropped goal that hit the upright and deflected through.
The Knights had injury worries of their own after playmaker Jarrod Mullen hobbled off in the 64th minute and was unable to return.
CRONULLA 21 (J Wright 2 T Carney B Ryan tries M Gordon 2 goals J Robson field goal) bt NEWCASTLE 20 (D Fa’alogo D Gagai T Roberts tries K Gidley 4 goals) in golden-point extra time at Hunter Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 16,983.
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