'That's a stitch up': Paul Vautin and Cameron Smith left stunned by penalty try decision
Reuben Cotter escaped the sin bin in expense of a penalty try as a 'surprising' bunker review gifts the Sharks a stellar lead at Allianz Stadium.
After 13 minutes of end-to-end football, Cronulla playmaker Braydon Trindall was awarded the first points of the match via a penalty try.
Electing to grubber through for himself, Trindall was prevented by Cotter, who pulled the Sharks star to the turf without the ball.
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"That's going to be sin bin," Cameron Smith said on Nine.
Referee Ashley Klein sent the incident to the bunker with the belief a penalty try should be awarded as Trindall would likely have made it to the ball had he not been obstructed.
Reuben Cotter tackles Braydon Trindall without the ball. Nine
The on-field ruling was upheld much to the disappointment of Nine's experts.
"That is wrong - you can't say Trindall would get there," Cameron Smith said on Nine as the review was being performed.
"I've got some questions over that one."
"That is a stitch up," Paul Vautin added.
Phil Gould said at half-time: "I don't think it's a try, but by the same token they deserve a little bit of luck."
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Two minutes later, the Sharks added more salt to the Cowboys wounds as Cameron McInnes combined with Ronaldo Mulitalo and Trindall to score.
Cronulla continued to dominate the field position to set Trindall up for a double.
Ronaldo Mulitalo caught the Cowboys "sleeping" to extend the lead to 24 at halftime.
"That's not the Cowboys type of football," Johnathan Thurston said as the team's entered the sheds at halftime.
"If they don't believe they can come back, go and have a shower now.
"They need to get back to competing, running hard, doing the simple things right."
