NRL 2024: Harry Grant sin binned as Cronulla Sharks win 25-18 over Melbourne Storm

Storm skipper Harry Grant was left stunned after the hooker was controversially sin binned, as the Sharks capitalised to end Melbourne’s 14-game win streak at home in a thrilling top of the table clash.

Harry Grant was controversially sin binned late in the first half after taking out the leg of Daniel Atkinson, with Cronulla scoring one minute later. Picture: NRL Imagery

Cronulla has ended Melbourne’s 14-game win streak at AAMI Park after a thrilling 25-18 victory to take a stronghold of top spot on the NRL ladder.

With Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes withdrawn late from the top-of-the-table clash, Craig Fitzgibbon’s side showed no signs of depletion, defeating the Storm on their home ground in a nailbiter.

After Will Kennedy passed off to Jesse Ramien for a Sharks try to rise to an exciting 18-12 lead in the 50th minute, the Storm bounced back through Tyran Wishart 18 minutes later to level the scoreline.

Daniel Atkinson then made a field goal to give the Sharks a one-point advantage with less than seven minutes to play.

Then a short kick from Storm’s Cameron Munster didn’t work out as Ronaldo Mulitalo took control with the catch before making a stunning run and passing off to matchwinner Siosifa Talakai for the final try of the game in the 74th minute.

The Sharks have ended the Storm’s 14-game win streak at home, in a thrilling top of the table clash. Picture: Getty Images

Earlier an Oregon Kaufusi try just before halftime against a 12-man Storm levelled the score line as the Bunker went against Grant Atkins’ call on the field, despite the referee being in a perfect position to make the initial call.

Replays didn’t show clear evidence of Kaufusi grounding the ball legally but the best angles gave him a case for a fair try.

Earlier, Tuku Hau Tapuha crashed through Storm’s defence to score his first NRL try in the 23rd minute.

Craig Bellamy’s side scored in between the Sharks’ first-half tries through Eliesa Katoa and Reimis Smith, ensuring they held leads for large parts of the opening half.

Smith’s try was particularly impressive as he had run through untouched thanks to a brilliant pass from Cameron Munster.

Harry Grant was controversially sin binned late in the first half after taking out the leg of Daniel Atkinson, with Cronulla scoring one minute later. Picture: NRL Imagery

SIN BIN CONTROVERSY

Storm captain Harry Grant was sent to the sin bin just before halftime leaving home fans in shock of the decision.

Grant’s right thigh partially caught Sharks five-eighth Daniel Atkinson’s kicking leg on the way through after he made contact with the footy.

NRL commentator Dan Ginnane saw it as a line in the sand moment for players making contact with players after kicking.

“I think we have the definitive line in the sand, that’s it now, any contact as middling as it seems, there is zero tolerance whether you like it or not, that is the game we play,” he said.

A Sharks try followed the close call as Oregon Kaufusi plummeted through Storm defence to level the scores at 12-all at half time.

After the game, Grant admitted he was shocked to be sin binned.

“I had no intention of going in with any intent to hurt Atko, I just went to put kick pressure on which is a big part of the game,” he said. “We can’t lose kick pressure in the game, it’s a big part of the game and we don’t want to lose it.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was clearly disappointed by the call post-game.

“That’s out of my control, at the end of the day, if that’s what they want to do, well then,” he said.

Bellamy, who confirmed during the week he would go on to coach the Storm for a 23rd season, said consistency was essential to the rules of game.

“I think with any rules, we got to have consistency, that’s the mark now, you touch his leg, doesn’t matter how hard, you go to the bin,” he said.

Sharks skipper Cameron McInnes said he was aware of the league coming down tougher on contact on kickers.

“I had a look back, I know they are clamping down on hitting the kicker afterwards, any contact at all but I don’t know the other examples to see if it warranted it or not,” he said.

“But my coach said you take it and that’s the ref’s decision, it went our way, sometimes it doesn’t.”

FAALOGO IMPRESSES

The excitement surrounding Storm fullback Sua Faalogo continues to grow after another impressive outing in his third NRL game.

The 21-year-old made two thrilling 40 metre runs in the opening five minutes and did it again in the later stages of the first half.

He finished the opening 40 minutes with six runs, four tackle busts and a line break.

“What about the electricity in the joint as soon as Sua catches the footy, it’s his third game,” Michael Ennis said in commentary after the second big run of Faalogo.

“You don’t see that often, there’s not many players after two or three games, they can just get everyone out of their seat after the minute they touch the footy.”

With fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen out of the side, the Storm are sure to have a fair replacement in Faalogo.

The Samoan international will be in for another big few games with Papenhuyzen on the sideline (fibula injury) for at least another three weeks.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Harry Grant sin binned as Cronulla Sharks win 25-18 over Melbourne Storm