Titans win tough battle against Sharks
Confused and relieved Titans coach John Cartwright and dual international Mat Rogers believe the standard of NRL officiating has to improve before it costs an NRL team a final.
Both men were puzzled by some highly controversial calls in their 20-10 victory over Cronulla on Sunday that secured the club an historic home final.
Cartwright and Rogers - who celebrated the win with his 100th try in his 175th NRL game - were astounded by a forward pass ruling which denied Sam Tagataese his first try of the season in the 67th minute.
They were also perplexed about why young centre Jordan Atkins was disallowed a try just after half time on a call of "obstruction" involving utility Luke O'Dwyer and Sharks halfback Scott Porter which seemed insignificant.
"I laugh about it now, but some of those rulings out there were absolutely nondescript .... I just shake my head," said Cartwright.
"It's ridiculous, the pass from (Scott Prince) .... how he called that forward I will never ever know.
"Those calls have a lot to do with with game. They could have scored and got back in the game, which they did, or that could have been us going on to win the game by 30 or 40 (points).
"I still don't know why the other one (Atkins' try) was disallowed to be honest, I couldn't see an obstruction and I couldn't work that one out either."
It was not clear whether the forward pass call was made by one of the two referees or a touch judge.
Rogers, stoked to bring up his century of tries, was equally vocal on the forward pass call, fearing it could prove costly in a few weeks.
"When you look at that Tagataese try, imagine if that was to win a game, to win a semi," posed Rogers.
"That is a try, that should be a try .... it's a try and it gets taken away from you.
"If that happens in a semi final, far out.
"You work your butt off from last November to get to this point where it's all on the line.
"To have a simple ruling like that - it's not good enough."
Rogers, who floated between five-eighth and centre with Preston Campbell and had a second try disallowed, said he'd be happy to play wherever Cartwright selected him.
He was thrilled with his 100th try but had to wait for the green light from video referee Chris Ward before celebrating.
"I don't remember my first try, no," he smiled,
"I'm rapt. 100 tries, it's pretty special, something that can never be taken away from you.
"I don't know how many people have done it, but I wouldn't imagine heaps of people have done it, so it's exciting."
Cronulla led 6-0 after former skipper Paul Gallen charged onto a Scott Porter grubber in the sixth minute.
Rogers' try levelled the scores before the Titans went to the break leading 14-6 after replacement Luke O'Dwyer crossed in the 35th minute and Scott Prince slotted a penalty right on half time.
Beaten coach Ricky Stuart he was proud of the way his players, many with limited NRL experience following a horror year of injuries, never tossed in the towel.
"It's a credit to the senior players and the younger guys who didn't give up, they were still trying to break their line in the last minute," he said.
"I was really happy with the way they never have up."
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