NRL world up in arms as ref blunder sinks Dragons

News.com.au

12-06-2025

St George Illawarra have suffered back-to-back defeats after they were overpowered by Cronulla in the local derby on Thursday night, albeit with a slice of controversy.
The Dragons had established an 18-6 lead at the break in enemy territory but were swamped by Cronulla in the second stanza, giving up 24 unanswered points.
However, despite another loss, it was a controversial late penalty from a kick-off that got Shane Flanagan's goat.
Trailing 24-18 with just over eight minutes left, the Dragons appeared to have regained possession thanks to a short kick-off, in a potentially momentum-turning play.
But referee Grant Atkins ruled that, even though the player was over the 40-metre line when he batted it back, the ball didn't break the plane.
That means in the referee's opinion, the ball didn't travel the required 10 metres, crossing the 40-metre line, and therefore the Sharks were awarded a penalty instead.
So rather than the Dragons going on the attack trying to level up the match, they were made to defend their line, it was a decision they never recovered from.
The commentators were left stunned by Atkins' call.
'Oh boy, it broke the plane for your life!' Warren Smith said in Fox commentary.
You can watch the kick off drama in the player at the top of the page.
'They don't have their challenge, and it can't be overturned. Oh, it broke the plane! That had to have broken the plane.'
Michael Ennis agreed with Smith. 'Oh no! Well and truly broke the plane,' Ennis said. 'It looked certain to have broken the plane.'
Post-game, Flanagan was fuming with the decision.
'There were some decisions that I was amazed at,' Flanagan said.
'You were watching it (the game) weren't you? There was a kick-off that you should watch again.
'There's a red line there called the 40-metre line and Moses Suli was on the other side of the 40-metre line. You can watch it.'
The NRL world was equally stunned by Atkins' error and questioned why the bunker or touch judge didn't overrule him.
'Refs cannot be getting the short kick of penalties wrong …. Why were the touch judges on the 50m line rather than the 40 … let the ref rule on off-side,' one fan wrote.
'The Dragons have every right to feel hard done by there,' another added.
'He's right in line how does he get that wrong? Big turning point. Why do we have touchies' a third said.
The loss leaves the Dragons in 12th position on the NRL ladder with five wins and eight losses for the season, meanwhile the Sharks have moved to fifth position with eight wins and six losses.