Rival coaches Steve Price, Shane Flanagan on attack after Dragons beat Sharks

CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan lost yesterday's match and attacked the match officials, perhaps understandably.

CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan lost yesterday's match and attacked the match officials, perhaps understandably. What was more bizarre though was the tirade aimed at rugby league's media by the winning coach, St George Illawarra's Steve Price.

On the field, Saints kept their season alive with a gritty yet vital 18-10 win over their old rivals at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.

The Dragons are now just two competition points outside the the top eight. They played tough.

But rather than enjoy a gutsy win, Price became paranoid and bagged the media and other detractors of his under-achieving side.

Without any prompting, rookie coach Price said: "Anyone who doubts the character and spirit in this club had their pants pulled down today.

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Asked whom he was referrring to, Price said: "Some people do. I'm sure you people (media) do. We have had a lot of bad press but we know what works.

"There has been a lot of negative press but I don't want to go into that. But we are big enough to overcome what has been thrown at us."

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Price, obviously feeling the heat, must have forgotten his spluttering side had won just seven of 16 games before yesterday's match.

"I haven't been reading the papers," said Saints skipper Ben Hornby.

Flanagan had genuine reason to be upset.

From a goal-line drop-out, it appeared Hornby knocked on - but play went on.

And on the same play that Dragons prop Trent Merrin scored the match-winning try, Saints centre Matt Cooper fumbled the ball, debate split as to whether it propelled forward.

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired," Flanagan said.

"They (poor decisions) are not just deciding games but deciding careers. You talk about coaches, players, fans, the top four.

"It wasn't just the two blokes in the middle today but those on the sideline. They go under the radar and don't get dissected.

"If Matt Cooper didn't knock the ball forward then I'm a bad judge. There was another with Ben Hornby. I don't know where we are going.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Cronulla skipper Wade Graham said: "The drop-out (Hornby drop ball) was a big one."

Saints though hit back at Flanagan's claims.

Asked about the Cooper drop-ball, Price said: "It clearly went backwards."

Hornby, when aksed about his apparent knock-on, added: "It wasn't a knock-on. They all even themselves out."

It was a courageous win by Saints, who lost five-eighth Jamie Soward (back) to injury before the game and centre Kyle Stanley (knee) in the sixth minute. Hooker Nathan Fien came from the field late in the match.

The Dragons always had the lead although Cronulla kept chipping away.

If South Sydney beat the Sydney Roosters tonight, Cronulla will slip from the top four.

But the Sharks shouldn't be too down about yesterday - the visitors were tough and dogged without star forwards Paul Gallen and Jeremy Smith.

A power blackout meant the game finished in near darkness. A Saints loss would have blacked out their season.

"We didn't seem to recover from those decisions," Flanagan said.

"That try (Brett Morris' 70 metre solo effort from a loose Todd Carney pass right on halftime) was the nail in the coffin in the end.

"It is really important (Cronulla finish top four). We have been there nearly all year.

"We don't want to stuff it as they say. We just have to concentrate on our job - it's a tough gig."

Graham produced another stand-out match, scoring two tries and having another disallowed for a forward pass to Anthony Tupou. Graham has really blossomed in the past few weeks.

Dragons winger Brett Morris and prop Trent Merrin were star performers for Saints. Morris had 19 carries for 220 metres. He really has enjoyed a stunning season.

"We had to overcame a few obstacles," Price said.

It has been 23 years since Cronulla won in Wollongong. The hoodoo continues.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 18 (T Merrin B Morris M Rein tries C Stanley 3 goals) bt CRONULLA 10 (W Graham 2 tries T Carney goal) at WIN Stadium. Referee: Adam Devcich, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 18,282.