Shane Flanagan lashes out at claims Cronulla targeted Matt Scott’s knee
CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has lashed out at what he claims are “false and ridiculous” accusations against his side by outspoken North Queensland forward Gavin Cooper.
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CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has lashed out at what he claims are “false and ridiculous” accusations against his side by outspoken North Queensland forward Gavin Cooper.
Cooper alleged Cronulla players employed “dirty tactics” on North Queensland and former Maroons prop Matt Scott in Townsville on Friday night.
He claimed they were “twisting the legs” of Scott, who was playing his first game in a year after recovering from an ACL injury.
“Ridiculous because it’s not true,’’ Flanagan fumed. “There is no evidence whatsoever and they’re false, false accusations.
“If you’re going to make comments like these then you have to have some evidence.
“I don’t listen too much to him (Cooper). I don’t think too many do. I have to worry about my boys, not him.”
Asked if he had a message for Cooper, Flanagan said: “Get your facts right.”
Flanagan spent the afternoon watching video of the match and was adamant his players had done nothing wrong.
“I went and watched all of Matt Scott’s carries and there’s no evidence whatsoever,” Flanagan said. “I wanted to make sure it didn’t happen. It definitely didn’t.
“Matt Scott never complained once about any tackle. He got up and played the ball. Show us one tackle.
“I watched it and Matt Scott carried the ball 10 times and there wasn’t one time he got his leg, knee or ankle twisted and he never complained once.
“He just played on like Matt Scott does. Our players wouldn’t do that.”
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Asked whether Cooper’s comments were a cheap shot, Flanagan said: “One hundred per cent.”
North Queensland won the match on Friday night, but Cooper didn’t lodge his complaint until Monday.
“I think there were a few little dirty tactics, a couple of guys twisting his leg and stuff like that … the refs missed that was pretty disappointing after what he has been through,” Cooper said.
“There were a couple of little things that I saw and hopefully we stamp that out of the game.
“There is a lot of feeling in Sharks versus Cowboys games. There is always going to be something.”
When asked if the tactic was again becoming prevalent again, or whether it was just how Cronulla played the game, Cooper said: “What are we trying to start here people? What do you want me to say?”
Scott ran for 94m and made 16 tackles in a solid return.
He wasn’t too concerned about alleged leg twisting from Cronulla.
“No, not targeted too much,” Scott said. “Any time you come back from a long-term injury, you expect to get it tested out a little bit.
“I’ll leave that on the field. You can have a look at the video.”