Shark denies taking a dive
By Dean Ritchie
June 12, 2007 SHARKS back rower Paul Gallen vehemently denies taking a dive during the spiteful and ferocious derby against St George-Illawarra at OKI Jubilee Stadium last night.
Sharks coach Ricky Stuart and Dragons rival Nathan Brown agreed that diving had become an issue in rugby league, saying the NRL had to change the rule whereby a player can stay down and receive a penalty through the video referee.
The match, won 20-16 by the Sharks, was one of the most fierce and torrid southern Sydney derbies in history.
St George-Illawarra hammered the Sharks tryline late in the match, but the Sharks - for so long the Dragons' "little brother" - held on to record a memorable victory that cemented their position in the top eight.
The Dragons were brave in defeat, playing the final 32 minutes with 12 men after prop Adam Peek was sent off for a late elbow to the head of Sharks halfback Adam Dykes.
Peek walked into the Sharks dressing room at full-time to apologise to Dykes - the pair long-time friends.
A concerned Stuart meanwhile spoke to NRL chief executive David Gallop about diving.
Gallen was one of several players accused of taking a dive when clipped high by Dragons five-eighth Richie Williams in the second half. Gallen rose to his feet and winked.
Both teams said they disliked the rule but would continue to exploit it while penalties were on offer.
"I was hit in the head and it hurt," Gallen said.
"It didn't miss my jaw.
"The referee saw it and we got the penalty."
Brown, who claimed that Dykes lay down after being hit in the head by Peek, said diving had become a "sad" part of rugby league.
"It is supposed to be the toughest sport in the world," Brown said.
"My dad always told me if you lie down then you don't go back on again.
"You can't lift an elbow to someone's head (as Peek did).
"Even though Dykesy would have got an Oscar, I can't condone what (Peek) did."
Stuart said that players should not be criticised for laying down, and the NRL should take it out of the players' hands by changing the rules.
Asked about the possibility that Dykes lay down, Stuart said: "Look at his (bloodied) ear. He didn't lay down.
"It is something that is creeping into the game. I don't agree with it and it's disappointing but eradicating it is difficult.
"If there's 30 seconds to go and you're down by one point in the grand final, what would you do?"
Dykes said that players were only acting within the rules when laying down.
"You do what you have to do to win," Dykes said.
Stuart described Peek's send-off as a "brain explosion".
"He'd be thinking 'what have I done' and 'why did I do that'," Stuart said.
Gallen was also placed on report for a high tackle on Dragons forward Ben Creagh, who came from the field but later returned.
, I am sure he will end up being a commentator in the next few years.
