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AAP | 29/03/09 | 0
AUDIO - The CCT checks in with 200-gamer Wendell Sailor
AUDIO - On the sideline with Michael Weyman
Cronulla five-eighth Trent Barrett's return to WIN Jubilee Oval ended tragically as he was stretchered off with a neck injury during St George Illawarra's 10-6 NRL win on Sunday.
The match was stopped for more than five minutes as medical staff attended to Barrett, placing his neck in a brace before carrying him off.
Barrett was attempting a tackle on Dragons forward Ben Creagh in the 50th minute when his neck was bent awkwardly by his own player, Blake Ferguson, who was also involved in the tackle.
The former Dragons skipper reportedly complained of pins and needles in an arm.
His concerned coach, Ricky Stuart, made his way to the sideline.
Booed roundly with his every touch early in the match, Barrett received a standing ovation from the crowd of 20,847 as he was carried off.
Barrett's injury overshadowed a gritty win by the Dragons in an arm-wrestle between two of the NRL's struggling attacks.
A 60th minute Creagh try sealed the victory after the scores had been locked at 6-6 from the 53rd minute.
In a dour first half punctuated by some poor handling from both sides, the Dragons had looked the slightly more likely and they grabbed the only four-pointer of the first 40 in the 12th minute when halfback Ben Hornby capitalised on some good work keeping the ball alive the play before.
They went to the break 6-0 up before Barrett's injury seemed to briefly galvanise the Sharks and winger David Simmons was on hand in the the 53rd minute to outleap Brett Morris and grab a Blake Green cross-field kick to score.
Luke Covell's sideline conversion made it 6-6 before Creagh burst through three defenders to touch down out wide.
Barrett's injury came with Cronulla already depleted, missing Ben Ross (neck), Brett Kearney (ankle), Brett Seymour (stood down) and Misi Taulapapa (suspended).
The Dragons win was their first in five derby outings against the Sharks.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 10 (B Creagh B Hornby tries J Soward goal) bt CRONULLA 6 (D Simmons try L Covell goal) at WIN Jubilee Oval. Referee: G Badger, Tony De Las Heras. Crowd: 20,847.
My 34-year-old legs felt the heat today...
Wendell Sailor
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