NRL 2022: Cronulla Sharks defeat NQ Cowboys 26-12, Jason Taumalolo denied crucial try

The Sharks capitalised on a controversial no-try call against Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo to keep their top two hopes alive with an impressive away win in Townsville.

Jason Taumalolo was denied a crucial try against the Sharks. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Sharks kept their top two hopes alive with a ruthless 26-12 win over the Cowboys after a try to wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo was controversially denied in the second half.

Taumalolo was denied a try when Reece Robson, in support, was ruled to have prevented Braden Hamlin-Uele from making a tackle when he just got ahead of Taumalolo as he barged over for what would have given the home side the lead.

“When we talk about the feel of the game and letting the game flow, that is a really silly decision,” Brent Tate said in Fox League commentary.

“There is just no common sense in that rule or that decision.”

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said: “I don’t know how [Hamlin-Uele] was going to stop JT. I think he would have pushed him further into the in-goal area. It was a big moment and it went against us ... but, in the end, they shouldn’t have scored the next try.”

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Jason Taumalolo was denied a crucial try by the video referee. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Minutes later Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes set up a try for Teig Wilton with a grubber and a 12-point swing had eventuated in the blink of an eye.

“The difference tonight was they defended their line better than we did,” Payten said. “We gave up four soft tries that should have been stopped.”

Both teams played like top four outfits destined to go deep into September in what was a ripper of a game. The Cowboys, without seven top 17 stars, were unbelievably brave to fight back from a 12-0 deficit.

The Sharks were slick and quick from the opening with centre Jesse Ramien powering over for two tries. A super catch and pass by Luciano Leilua in his first starting game for the Cowboys was the catalyst for Kyle Feldt to cross for his 13th try against Cronulla in 15 games.

A cracking pass from Chad Townsend put Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow over on the cusp of half-time while Blayke Brailey was in the bin, and it was game on before Hynes stepped up when he was needed to take the Sharks to equal second on the ladder with the Cowboys.

Jesse Ramien celebrates his try with Sharks teammates against the Cowboys. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

NICHO GRIT

Sharks half Nicho Hynes had some sloppy ends to sets but it was his desperation in defence that snuffed out several really dangerous Cowboys raids. So often Hynes has stepped up with the ball in hand but the tries he stopped, including one bone rattler on a flying Connelly Lemuelu that saved a certain try, showed his mettle.

He finished with 24 tackles and a try assist to show his great worth to Cronulla.

Sharks captain Wade Graham said the side’s fifth win in a row was a step in the right direction ahead of a showdown with Penrith next Saturday.

“We haven’t arrived by no means,” Graham said. “The result we are happy with but we’ve got to fix up some important areas. If we turn over the ball like we did tonight it could be a long afternoon at Penrith.”

TOWNSEND TERRIFIC

Cowboys half Townsend said in an interview with Fox League in the warm-up that he’d long marked his first game against the club he won the 2016 premiership with down on the calendar. It was a game he’d been salivating over.

He walked the talk and proved once again why he has been one of the buys of the year.

The veteran staff stepped up in the absence of Dearden and schemed all game. He was heavily involved in the first try, and set up the second.

SHARK HUNT

The Sharks had a sensational start to the match and it was one of their unsung toilers, prop Royce Hunt, who gave them plenty of punch.

Hunt has found a real partner in grit in Toby Rudolph and the two in tandem dominated the early confrontations to set up the early lead that proved decisive.

COWBOYS BRAVE

North Queensland coach Todd Payten rested Maroons heroes Jeremiah Nanai, Tom Dearden and Valentine Holmes but rugged forward Tom Gilbert backed up.

For the Sharks, centre Siosifa Talakai suffered a minor shoulder injury for NSW and was ruled out.

The Cowboys were also without the ill or injured Murray Taulagi, Jordan McLean, Reuben Cotter and Heilum Luki but did not drop their bundle.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Cronulla Sharks defeat NQ Cowboys 26-12, Jason Taumalolo denied crucial try