By Billie Eder and Daniel Lo Surdo
A Daniel Atkinson field goal in golden point delivered Cronulla a dramatic 19-18 victory over the Knights on Sunday afternoon and kept them in the top four as thoughts turn towards the finals.
In an action-packed game that had three unsuccessful field-goal attempts – two which were denied due to obstructing defending players – Atkinson secured victory for his side in the dying seconds of the first half of extra-time.
Sharks fans’ hearts were in their mouths after Kalyn Ponga kicked the would-be winning field goal with three minutes left in regular time before referee Gerard Sutton ruled a penalty for obstruction.
With a leg up-field from the resulting penalty, Cronulla engineered their own opportunity to win the game, Atkinson sending the ball over with a minute left on the clock before they were pulled up for the same offence the Knights had committed moments earlier.
That sent the match into additional time, with the Knights getting the first chance with the wind at their backs.
A knock on by William Kennedy handed the Knights possession on Cronulla’s 40-metre line, but Phoenix Crossland sent his field-goal attempt wide to the right.
Daniel Atkinson after his match-winning field goal on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
With a packed PointsBet Stadium screaming for the home side, Atkinson finally sealed the game-winning field goal seconds before golden point was going into a second half.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon hailed Atkinson after his crucial play.
“He’s [Atkinson] done an enormous job. I feel like he’s had multiple changes throughout his halves combination, and he gets another one, albeit more defensively [in Blayke Brailey],” Fitzgibbon said.
“I think there was a lot of stuff there that wasn’t pretty, but a lot of good stuff as well, and the ability to hang in. We had so many players out of position and still found a way to get it done, so it’s important at this stage of the year.”
Talei Holmes is stretchered off after going head first into the ground.Credit: Getty Images
Knights coach Adam O’Brien was furious at Sutton’s decision to disallow Ponga’s field goal, and the skipper was left devastated as the Knights’ chances to make the finals were all but quashed.
“Disappointing. I don’t have many words, man,” Ponga said. “That one hurts.”
Despite having an extra player on the field to start the second half after Crossland was sent to the bin on the half-time siren, Cronulla were unable to capitalise, and the Knights scored eight points before Crossland returned.
Ronaldo Mulitalo helped claw back the Sharks back into the game, with a try to square the scores at 18-18 with seven minutes left on the clock.
Meanwhile, Sharks NRLW player Talei Holmes was stretchered off in her team’s 14-12 win over two-time premiers Newcastle.
Holmes was caught awkwardly in a tackle when she and teammate Ellie Johnston tried to take Shanice Parker to ground. Holmes got caught under Parker and hit the ground head first.
Holmes was sent to hospital, where scans confirmed there was no fracture.
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