LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Cronulla Sharks were left feeling as though they had been tackled high by a referee blunder in their narrow 20-16 loss to the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night.
In a game where every play counts like a tight end in the red zone, the Sharks found themselves trailing 12-0 when they entered prime field position early in the second half.
With the try line looming like a quarterback under pressure, Siosifa Talakai, Briton Nikora, and Tom Hazelton set the stage for what should have been a game-changing moment on the fourth tackle with Kayal Iro in possession.
But just when the Sharks were ready to unleash their offensive play like a running back breaking free, referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adams blew the whistle prematurely, denying them a crucial extra opportunity to put points on the board.
It was a moment that left Sharks fans feeling like they had been blindsided by a linebacker, robbed of a chance to turn the game around.
In a game where split-second decisions can make or break a team's chances, the Sharks were left to rue what could have been as they slipped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Titans.
Just like a Hail Mary pass falling incomplete, the Sharks' hopes of a comeback were dashed by the referee's fumble on the fourth tackle.