THe Storm pulled together an unlikely move to claim an unlikely victory at Shark Park. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)

Melbourne scored a last-second winner to beat the Cronulla-Sutherland 24-20, with Harry Grant's miraculous reverse pass assist the difference maker at Shark Park.

The thrilling finish belied a disjointed all round display in which the teams combined to make 25 errors, gave away a total of 13 penalties and had four players placed on report.

The Sharks were down to 11 men early after Michael Gabrael was sin binned for a high shot that saw Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown stretchered off and taken to hospital, before Ronaldo Mulitalo punched Grant in a melee.

Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown was stretchered off and taken to hospital. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)

The Sharks bemoaned a clear forward pass that was missed for the Storm's first try, and a controversial call to allow a Sua Fa'alogo score when the ball may have touched the dead-ball line as it was grounded.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbons said he wasn't "sooking" about the calls, but was confused about them.

"I don't want to challenge the integrity of the game, but I would like to see the integrity of the game remain what it should be," he said.

"A forward pass is a forward pass, and if you're going to back the referee, back the referee. Don't back him some weeks and then the week after, don't do it."

There can be no arguments over the thrilling finish, with Grant's wonderful pass the perfect antidote to such a shoddy performance.

However, even in defeat the Sharks did enough to ensure they will host the Cowboys in Sydney next weekend, with the Cronulla staff hopeful of playing the game at Shark Park.

Earlier, the Warriors won a thriller in Auckland and the Raiders smashed the Cowboys 50-30 in Townsville.

North Queensland will be sweating on the judiciary after Reuben Cotter was sin binned and placed on report for a high shot on Josh Papali'i in the opening tackle of the game.

Reuben Cotter of the Cowboys is sent to the sin bin during the round 27 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders at Townsville  Stadium, on September 05, 2026, in Townsville, Australia. (Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)

Cotter has been charged twice already this season and could face a ban that would rule him out of the first week of the finals at least.

Source: Read the original article on www.abc.net.au

Written by https://futureknowledge.in/