St George Illawarra Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has launched a scathing attack on NRL officials following a contentious call that effectively ended his team's finals aspirations.
In a fiery post-match press conference, Flanagan described the decision as "outrageous" and claimed it robbed his side of a crucial victory that would have kept their playoff hopes alive.
The Controversial Moment
The incident occurred during a pivotal moment of the match when officials ruled against the Dragons on a critical play. Flanagan argued vehemently that the wrong call had been made, insisting video evidence clearly supported his team's case.
"We've been on the wrong end of these decisions all season," Flanagan fumed. "When you're fighting for your finals life, to have it taken away like that is simply unacceptable."
Finals Dreams Dashed
The controversial ruling proved decisive as the Dragons ultimately fell short in their must-win encounter. The result mathematically eliminated St George Illawarra from finals contention with one round remaining in the regular season.
Flanagan revealed his players were "devastated" in the dressing room afterwards, with several veterans particularly emotional about what might have been.
Calls for Consistency
The experienced coach didn't hold back in his criticism of the officiating standards across the competition this season, demanding greater consistency from the NRL's referees and bunker system.
"We need accountability," Flanagan stated. "These decisions change careers, change seasons. It's not good enough at this level."
The NRL is yet to respond publicly to Flanagan's comments, though the controversy is certain to spark renewed debate about refereeing standards as the competition enters its finals series.
