Dragons coach Paul McGregor fumes over bunker blunder as St George fall millimetres from miracle against Sharks

Controversy overshadowed a genuine NRL blockbuster with the league forced to step in and stand down two officials immediately.

Paul McGregor shakes his head at the bunker.

A blockbuster contest between the Cronulla Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons has been overshadowed by a controversial moment in the opening moments of the game.

The Sharks claimed the 28-24 win over the Dragons who fought back heroically in the second half only to fall agonisingly short.

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But the stunning comeback paled in comparison to what unfolded early in the contest when a monumental blunder from the bunker cost the Dragons dearly.

The Dragons were left to rue a controversial try early in the game with the Sharks awarded a score when the St George’s Matt Dufty had clearly grounded the ball first.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor was asked about the try and shook his head.

“Pretty clear right?” he said. “How do they keep getting it wrong and who’s accountable for it? Because it’s a stuff up but in the end, there’s the difference.

“What can I do? I think the person probably watching this and you guys should make a song and dance and do something about it because it’s not good enough.”

The NRL were quick to act, announcing bunker officials Ben Galea and Steve Clark were dropped for the Titans-Panthers game tomorrow.

“The bunker decision to award a try to Jack Williams in tonight’s Sharks-Dragons game was incorrect,” NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley said in a statement.

“Steve Clark and Ben Galea were due to officiate again tomorrow in the Titans-Panthers game as bunker officials.

“They have now been relegated, and will be replaced by Jared Maxwell and Brian Norrie.”

Matt Dufty appeared to ground the ball first.

Dufty was shocked when the decision went the Sharks way at the time.

“The boys asked me when it went to video ref, ‘did you get it down’ and I said ‘100 per cent I got it down’,” Dufty said.

“I haven’t seen it but the coach told me after the game that I had grounded it first and I said that I thought I did.

“Even after they awarded the try I was pretty shocked. I asked if we could challenge it but he said it was the video ref.”

Sharks coach John Morris said it was a “massive sigh of relief”.

“That was a local derby the way they’re meant to be played,” he said.

But when asked about the Williams try, he said he hadn’t seen it up close but “at first look it looked like a try”.

“They had enough looks at it to determine the try I’ve got to back their decision, “ he said. I think the Dragons may have bobbled a ball in the lead up to one of their first tries as well. What goes around comes around in this game and at the end of an 80 minute game like that, I don’t think the Jack Williams try, if it was given no try was such a huge play.”

How can you get that wrong! Do we need a freaking 4th ref for @NRL #Dufty clearly grounded the ball! @NRL_Dragons Not acceptable #NRLSharksDragons

— Kris Fade (@krisfade) July 25, 2020

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Jack Williams snubbed every celebration with his teammates. He knew he didn’t score #NRLSharksDragons

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) July 25, 2020

The Dragons looked lone gone at the main break, behind 22-14 and having already lost

Trent Merrin and Adam Clune.

And when the Sharks scored again, through Aaron Woods to start the half, it looked like it was all over for the Dragons.

But a stunning comeback sparked by the side’s right side attack of Zac Lomax and Mikaele Ravalawa have almost snatched a second straight come-from-behind victory.

The Dragons hit back with a try through Lomax as fullback Matt Dufty delivered a perfect flick pass to put his centre in in the corner.

The Dragons then made it a one point ball game when Lomax picked up a grubber from Dufty before hurling the ball in at the Sharks’ Ronaldo Mulitalo, with the ball bouncing into Ravalawa’s hands to cross the line with 22 minutes remaining.

Inside the final 10 minutes, the Dragons had chances to attack the line with two attacking raids snuffed out 10m from the line.

With three minutes to go however, Matt Dufty seemed certain to score off a grubber, only to knock on.

But the Dragons had one more chance inside the final minute, with Corey Norman kicking across field for Jason Saab.

The young winger flew through the air, catching the ball and grounding it — only he landed on the dead ball line.

Jason Saab grounded the ball on the dead ball line.

It was a heartbreaking finish for the Dragons who came from behind last week to claim a last gasp win against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

“Almost a play for the ages,” Dan Ginnane said in commentary. “Almost coming up with a miracle.”

That one hurts #NRLSharksDragons #redv

— Isaac McIntyre (@isaac_mcintyre6) July 25, 2020

Rugby league is a game of millimetres #NRLSharksDragons pic.twitter.com/s1qpnGPPA0

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) July 25, 2020

Wow the Dragons were millimetres away from a smash and grab against the Sharks #NRLSharksDragons

— Anthony Lewis (@tonylewis92) July 25, 2020