Watch: Shellharbour Sharks book Group 7 grand final ticket with dramatic extra-time field goal winner

A dramatic Shellharbour derby to determine the second grand finalist for 2023. Watch the moment a young gun’s field goal sealed victory in extra-time.

The Stingrays of Shellharbour took on the Shellharbour Sharks in the Group 7 preliminary final.

The Shellharbour Sharks have punched their ticket to the Group 7 grand final with a dramatic 17-16 victory over the Stingrays of Shellharbour.

It took over 90 minutes of enthralling rugby league action to determine a winner at Cec Glenholmes Oval, leaving the Stingrays of Shellharbour to exit the 2023 competition after their best first grade season ever.

“The longer the game went on the better I thought it played out for us,” said Sharks coach Abed Atallah.

“We knew it was going to be a battle, they’re a tough team all over the park and we had to adjust our game plans accordingly.

“It was great to see all our guys putting in though and getting just reward.”

Brodie Rigg was a standout performer for the Sharks. Picture: Steve Montgomery/Ourfootyteam

The Stingrays wouldn’t go down easy though, opening the scoring within a matter of minutes when captain Tom Warner charged in after a terrific aerial catch and offload from centre Taioalo Vaivai.

It was an afternoon where the stars were leaving their mark on the big occasion, with gun Sharks fullback Braxton Wallace the next to get among the action, regaining his own grubber kick through the line to score the first for his side.

Captain Warner would be at it again though, pulling off a brilliant one-on-one strip on his opposition forward Bradley Chapman before racing to the line for his second.

A big turning point in the contest would come in the second half when the Stingrays were reduced to 12 men after Tyson Wood was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Tommy Warner had a stellar game despite the loss. Picture: Thomas Lisson

With the number disadvantage, the Stingrays were unable to hold out Eze Harper who found himself on an overlap down the left flank to score.

With the Sharks converting a couple of penalty goals, the Stingrays needed another try which came through some great individual work from Taioalo Vaivai, grubbering through and cleaning up the loose ball to score in the corner for the Stingrays.

Ryan James looking for options against the defence. Picture: Thomas Lisson

And so after 80 minutes it would go to golden point for the first time in the 2023 competition.

Jake Kamire was looking the most threatening for the Stingrays, twice busting his way through the line and threatening to go all the way.

Zaan Weatherall came within inches of the line, only to be denied by a heroic last-ditch defensive effort from Nick Hay and Jye Brooker.

Isaac Morris and Emanuel Sultana both attempted field goals, either skewing them short or being denied by a big charge-down from captain Tom Warner.

Come the second period of extra time though, a knock on right on his own try line from Ben Weatherall presented the Sharks with a golden opportunity to seal the game, allowing Isaac Morris to step up and slot the one-pointer to seal victory.

“He owned that moment,” Atallah said.

“I was really happy for him, seeing a 21-year-old kid stick his hand up and demand the footy.”

The Sharks now enter their first grand final since their victory in 2018, where in their way will be the ever-formidable Gerringong Lions.

In the reserve grade, The Kiama Knights sealed a grand final berth against the Gerringong Lions after defeating the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles 22-12.

Meanwhile in the U18s, the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas edged out the Stingrays of Shellharbour 24-20 to book a grand final spot against the Gerringong Lions as well, meaning three grades of Lions are gearing up for grand finals next weekend.