South Sydney Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the closing moments of Golden Point’s loss to the Cronulla Sharks at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday.
The 30-year-old was given his marching orders in the 86th minute of the Round 20 contest after a “shocking” hooking tackle on Sharks center Ronaldo Mulitalo.
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Referee Gerard Sutton immediately awarded a penalty for the high kick, sending off the England international and leaving the Rabbitohs with 12 men for the final three minutes of extra time.
“Big tackle Burgess, he’s a big deal, he’s halfway there,” Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane said.
“It doesn’t matter what a penalty is in Cronulla, but what are the consequences?
“Ooft, some power on that Burgess. The Cronulla players have just seen a replay and it’s fired them up again.
“Disappeared. Sent. Tom Burgess straight from the field and they’ll end up with 12”.
However, Balmain Tigers legend Steve Roach was not convinced Burgess deserved to be sent off.
“He was just trying to do something for his team, a bit over the top, but I don’t think it hit him in the head actually, it just slid up,” he explained.
After a field goal penalty and three shutouts, Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes kicked the game-winning field goal to seal a thrilling 21-20 win in front of 11,492 screaming fans.
“Nicho Hynes is great, it’s Cronulla night, they’ve done it to death in the Shire again,” Ginnane said.
“It could be the moment that catapults them into the final four.”
The pre-season recruit has produced some big moments this year, but none will top his 88th-minute field goal as South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell missed three golden chances to win his side the game.
Mitchell missed two shots in the first period, including one from 20 yards out, while Cronulla’s Matt Moylan also missed a pair of shots in the opening five minutes.
Earlier on Saturday, Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary was hit with a third-degree dangerous throwing charge, meaning he will miss five games with an early guilty plea.
The 24-year-old will be banned for six weeks if he chooses to fight the charge in court and is found guilty.
Taking to Instagram after the game, Cleary took full responsibility for his actions.
“Mass apologies for tonight,” Cleary posted. “I take it to myself for such a stupid moment that let the boys and the fans down.
“I’m not for it, it was a terrible technique and I need to be better.”
Cleary’s suspension is a major blow in the build-up to the finals for Penrith, who are already without five-eighth Jarome Luai for an extended spell through injury.
— with Martin Gabor, NCA NewsWire
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