The finals dream is all but over for the Cronulla Sharks after the Melbourne Storm clinched a controversial 36-28 NRL win at Toyota Park.

Cronulla must win its final game against North Queensland at Townsville and rely on other results to go its way to squeeze into the top eight after the seven tries to five loss that ended with three players in the sin bin.

"We're still a chance. There's one game to go. Where there's hope we'll still keep battling," defiant Sharks coach Stuart Raper said.

In contrast, Melbourne remained in the hunt for a top four spot with its third straight win.

It was one of the most important games of the Sharks' 2004 season - and the most bizarre.

After being stung by a controversial opportunist try by fullback Billy Slater that handed the Storm a 26-14 halftime lead, the Sharks finished the game with Jason Stevens and Matthew Rieck in the bin along with Melbourne winger Matt King.

Stevens and King were walked for fighting despite touch judge Jason Weinstein and referee Tim Mander failing to see the full incident.

King said he came into help teammate Dallas Johnson who was scuffling with Stevens in the 75th minute then suddenly found he had been sin binned alongside the burly Sharks prop.

Rieck took exception to Mander's ruling and was also binned.

Stevens didn't want to comment on the incident but King said: "Dallas and Steveo were having a go.

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