Wade Graham erupts as Canberra Raiders eliminate Cronulla Sharks after controversial turning point

The Cronulla Sharks have delivered a stunning first half display but confusion has reigned after a "devastating blow" has left the side reeling.

Wade Graham was furious over the Wighton try.

The Canberra Raiders are through to week two of the NRL finals after a controversial 32-20 win over the Cronulla Sharks in the first elimination final.

The Sharks, who started strongly and put in a brave performance in the nation's capital, taking it to the Raiders throughout the first half.

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Unfancied by many the Sharks put in a tremendous effort, leading 14-6 late in the first half.

But an intercept to the Raiders' George Williams made it 14-10 at the break and gave the home side a sniff.

It was all they needed as the side ran in four second half tries to blow the Sharks away.

It was what was expected from the Raiders but it wasn't without controversy.

In the 46th minute, Jack Wighton crossed the line next to the posts to make after a penalty tap in controversial circumstances.

20m out, Andrew Fifita laid on a tackle and gave away a ruck infringement penalty, but the Sharks appeared to relax when captain Wade Graham tried to call for a captain's challenge.

But Wighton took a quick tap and ran it in the score the try.

Graham was furious with the call.

“I’m challenging and then you played on. I don’t understand,” he said to the referee.

"The six again…when play breaks down, we have to blow a penalty," referee Grant Atkins said. "That's the first element.

"The second element is that he tapped the ball before any challenge was made.

Graham said "No. No. I yelled out straight away, Fifita was on the ground and I said 'challenge'."

"The third element," the referee continued. "It's ruck interference which you can't challenge. Ruck interference is six again."

Wade said: "No, ruck interference is six again?"

"No mate, the penalty is for ruck interference which you can't challenge. You can't challenge ruck interference and he tapped it before you challenged."

Jack Wighton scores but Wade Graham wasn't happy.

Braith Anasta said it was the "confusion of the new rule" with Graham taking himself out of the defensive line to score the try.

"The Cronulla Sharks stopping because they've heard their captain challenge has opened that space for Wighton to run through and score that try," Anasta said, agreeing it was a legitimate try but that it was confusing nonetheless.

Anasta said it was a "tough call" as he said Graham had called the challenge before the tap, while commentator Dan Ginnane called it a "devastating blow".

Play the whistle! If you can’t challenge it, then it’s play on?? #NRLRaidersSharks #NRL

— Joshua Wells (@joshuawells93) October 3, 2020

Tough call man! #NRLRaidersSharks

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) October 3, 2020

On Channel 9, Brad Fittler and Phil Gould backed the decision.

"I've got to say, grant Atkins explained that very clearly," Fittler said.

"it was a penalty, the Sharks went to sleep and Wighton took advantage. Fair try."

Phil Gould added: "I love it, there should be more of it."

Wade Graham was sent away by Grant Atkins.

But it proved to be the turning point in the game with the Raiders piling on two more tries – a second each to Wighton and George Williams – to open up a 28-14 lead after 57 minutes, after three tries in 10 minutes before Elliott Whitehead crossed to make it a 32-14 ball game.

Sione Katoa scored a late intercept try for a consolation but it wasn't enough.

The Sharks burst out of the blocks in the first half, scoring a penalty goal to kick off the scoring.

Cronulla were unlucky not to have a man advantage as well after it appeared the Raiders' John Bateman tripped Sharks forward Braden Hamlin-Uele.

Although Cronulla conceded the first try in a soft defensive effort when six players fell of Joseph Tapine for the Raiders lock to score next to the post.

The Sharks then scored through Ronaldo Mulitalo and Blayke Brailey to take a big advantage until Williams' intercept changed the game.