Craig Fitzgibbon criticizes NRL officiating after Cronulla Sharks loss to Melbourne Storm

Cronulla Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon criticized officiating decisions following his team's last-minute loss to the Melbourne Storm on Saturday. Fitzgibbon expressed frustration over a forward pass ruling during the lead up to a Hugo Peel try and a separate incident involving a Sua Fa'alogo grounding decision reviewed by the bunker. The defeat marks the fourth loss in five matches for the Sharks, who now prepare for an elimination final against the North Queensland Cowboys. Captain Cameron McInnes echoed concerns regarding the consistency of the six-again rule, noting that players frequently find the application of the rule confusing. Despite securing a top-eight finish, the Cronulla Sharks enter the postseason phase in a difficult run of form. Fitzgibbon stated that he intends to keep his focus on next week's performance despite his grievances regarding recent officiating calls.

• 12:44 AMZero Tackle NRL — Craig Fitzgibbon takes officiating to task for second straight week