The Cronulla Sharks cruised to a 58-6 win over the West Tigers at Shark Park on Friday night after a controversial first-half sin bin left the visitors stunned.
West Tigers skipper Apisai Koroisau was given his marching orders for a professional foul in the 17th minute.
Referee Adam Gee claimed that Koroisau was not square at marker after the Sharks made a break through Ronaldo Mulitalo and he attempted a tackle.
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Koroisau argued against the call but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
"You didn't get there in time… you can't challenge markers," Gee could be heard instructing him.
But the hooker had the support of Phil Gould in commentary who declared "he's square" on Nine's broadcast.
With the Tigers down a man, the Sharks took advantage with Jesse Ramien coming close to scoring before winger Sione Katoa charged over in the corner seven minutes after Koroisau left the field.
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At the main break, the Sharks lead the Tigers 24-6 following tries to Kayal Iro and Ronaldo Mulitalo, and a first-half double to Katoa.
During the half time break, Allana Ferguson and Paul Gallen weighed in on Koroisau's binning.
Ferguson labelled the call "horrendous" while Gallen attested that nothing should have ever come from the incident.
"This was not a penalty let alone a sin bin," he said
"[Gee] was too hasty to make this decision … the video (referee) could have given him a tip-off, 'mate it's not even a penalty let alone a sin bin, leave him on the field' but wasn't to be.
"The Wests Tigers copped one there."
Koroisau's sin bin marked the Tigers' 11th sin bin this season.
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Both sides suffered casualties with Tigers prop Alex Seyfarth concussed in an act of friendly fire before Sharks counterpart Jesse Colquhoun left the field in agony after suffering a suspected ACL injury.
Koroisau also came from the field and did not return after injuring his calf.
A second-half hat-trick to Mulitalo and 22-scored points from Braydon Trindall helped the Sharks to the commanding victory.
Centre Solomona Faataape was the sole try-scorer on a disappointing evening for the Tigers.
Post-game, Adam Doueihi described it as "shithouse".
"Embarrassing, disappointing, from the get go we didn't bring any energy, any enthusiasm, we weren't willing to tackle hard enough and weren't willing to run hard enough," he told on Nine.
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