SF
Mako Shark
Retiring Sharks coach, Greg Pierce, is presented with a copper Aztec calendar by Cronulla president Steve Hodsdon, before the game.
It was a bitter-sweet day for Pierce, who had played for and coached the Sharks for well over a decade.
His retirement day was overshadowed by a heated half-time clash in the tunnels with referee Chris Ward.
"He cost us 12 points in the first half with his decisions," Pierce said.
"One Parramatta try (Eric Grothe's) came from a knock on while another (Steve Ella's) came after a shepherd. And Paul Taylor's scrum feeding was not in accordance with the rules. He told Perry Haddock to clean himself up or he wouldn't be feeding the scrums. Here was a fullback feeding the scrums perfectly for one side and a regular first grade half being told to clean up. I approached Ward at half-time but he wasn't very responsive. He just pushed me away."
It was a bitter-sweet day for Pierce, who had played for and coached the Sharks for well over a decade.
His retirement day was overshadowed by a heated half-time clash in the tunnels with referee Chris Ward.
"He cost us 12 points in the first half with his decisions," Pierce said.
"One Parramatta try (Eric Grothe's) came from a knock on while another (Steve Ella's) came after a shepherd. And Paul Taylor's scrum feeding was not in accordance with the rules. He told Perry Haddock to clean himself up or he wouldn't be feeding the scrums. Here was a fullback feeding the scrums perfectly for one side and a regular first grade half being told to clean up. I approached Ward at half-time but he wasn't very responsive. He just pushed me away."
