Cronulla star Greg Bird suffered a posterior cruciate knee ligament injury that will almost certainly rule him out of State of Origin III as the Sharks produced a controversial 16-14 NRL win over Parramatta at Toyota Stadium.

Bird was dragged down just inches short of the tryline in the 29th minute by Eels halfback Brett Finch and immediately grimaced in pain as his left knee buckled under the weight of both players.

Sharks officials said Bird had injured his PCL and would likely miss between two and six weeks, although that diagnosis cannot be confirmed until scans on Monday.

Without their key playmaker, the Sharks were still able to rally for one of their better wins this season, storming home for a two tries apiece victory in front of 17,547 fans.

But the result was mired in controversy after video referee Bill Harrigan awarded a contentious penalty in the 79th minute to the Sharks just 10m out and directly in front of goal after Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi collided with Brett Kimmorley after his long range drop goal attempt.

Kimmorley suffered contact to his chin from Moimoi and stayed on the ground, allowing time for Harrigan to review footage and tell whistleblower Shayne Hayne to award the penalty, ending the 14-all dead lock.

Luke Covell stepped up and slotted the simplest of penalty goals to secure the Sharks a win which keeps them equal top of the NRL table.

Although it was a controversial finish, the Sharks had been the better side despite the Eels being first to score when Taulima Tautai strolled over in the corner in just the 10th minute after an earlier 40m bust by Feleti Mateo.

Sharks hooker Isaac De Gois struck back in the 24th minute with a soft try from dummy half to reduce the deficit to 8-6 which remained the score into the halftime break.

The two sides traded penalty goals after the break before a sensational play by Sharks five-eighth Brett Seymour handed his side the lead for the first time in the 57th minute.

Seymour stripped the ball free of inexperienced winger Tony Williams inside the goal area and prop Luke Douglas simply had to flop onto the loose ball to score the easiest try of his career.

Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy had a chance to seal the result in the 72nd minute but was superbly held up in goal by Joel Reddy and Tautai on the last tackle.

Eels replacement Matt Keating was held up by Douglas three minutes later but on the very next play Finch swung the ball wide for Krisnan Inu to put Williams across for the leveller.

Fullback Luke Burt's conversion attempt fell just inches below the crossbar.

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