Flanagan shattered by refs calls

Paul Gallen complains to referee Shayne Hayne. Source: Mark Evans / DailyTelegraph

SHATTERED Sharks coach Shane Flanagan wasn't prepared to risk ending his year from hell with a $10,000 fine for abusing match officials but to say he was disappointed with some of the decisions on Friday night is a massive understatement.

After a year scarred by the ongoing ASADA investigation, Cronulla crashed out of the finals race on Friday night in controversy following a 24-18 defeat to Manly.

In the wake of last week's controversial win over the Cowboys and the seven-tackle try fiasco both Flanagan and Paul Gallen were cautious not to sound hypocritical but they found it difficult to contain their frustrations.

Flanagan said he believed there was evidence that Steve Matai knocked the ball forward in the lead up to Anthony Watmough's first try of the match and Cronulla had no doubt Jorge Taufua lost control when he touched down for a controversial try.

On both occasions the on-field referee awarded the try which basically prevents the video ref from overturning the initial decision.

There was also another try late in the game to Gallen that could have locked the scores and sent the match into extra time but it was disallowed because the on-field officials ruled John Morris had pulled Matt Ballin out of play.

Both Flanagan and his captain thought that call should have also gone to Cronulla.

"I know coaches have blown up and it is not going to change the result so I am not going to go off my head. I'd like to," Flanagan said.

"Noycey hasn't got $10,000 and neither have I.

"But I went to a referees' meeting at the start of the year and the Jorge Taufua try was told to me that it was not a try.

"I have got videos back at the office, that is not a try.

"The first try, if that is not a knock on I'd be very surprised.

"A bloke running at speed, comes off his arm, what?

"As I said, really disappointing that we have to talk about those type of things but you know I have to go up to these boys who are shattered.

"Some blokes have played their last game for the club and we are talking about referees' decisions. Video refs. Even Gal's last try, why wasn't that a try?

"Why wasn't that given a try and then sent up to the video ref for a decision on it?

"John Morris had passed the ball, was running back, yeah he's touched the bloke but he was trying to get into position to get to dummy half.

"You know, with a bit of luck, if a few decisions go our way we could be playing to go into a grand final and that is the thing that hurts.

"That you don't get that opportunity.

"If you come off the field and you are beaten 24-4 I cop it."

Asked if the controversial rule that forces the on-field referee to make a judgement call needs to be scrapped next year, Flanagan said: "100 per cent. I couldn't agree more.

"I'd like to see next year the rules at round one be the rules at round 26.

"There is real strange things that have gone on in our game this year."

Gallen was reluctant to go too heavy given what happened in the aftermath of the Cowboys match.

"I could sit here and talk conspiracy theories and give you something to write about for three days but you know, it's over. We were beaten.

"Massive effort by all of us.

"If you ask me, I agree with Flanno, from where I was standing I thought Matai knocked it on for the first try. I thought Taufua lost it and on my try I thought he should have awarded the try and gone to the video but he didn't.

"But like I said, I'm bitterly disappointed but it was a good effort and nothing I say is going to change anything."

Flanagan said he was proud of the effort Cronulla showed in defeat on Friday night after an extremely trying season.

"I've been proud of them all year, tough bunch of boys and committed to each other and committed to turning up on a really tough day and they fought right until the end," he said.  

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