‘Jesse Ramien, what are you doing!?’: Cooper Cronk BLASTS Sharks star for blunder against Raiders 

Cooper Cronk believes Jesse Ramien’s brain fade cost the Cronulla Sharks the game in a closely-fought against the Canberra Raiders on Friday night.

With the Sharks leading 19-18 and just six minutes left on the clock, Ramien collided with Nick Cotric as the Raiders winger steadied himself to catch a bomb put up by Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes.

The infringement handed the Raiders possession and they swiftly capitalised on the mistake by charging down the field and scoring the match-winning try, with Hudson Young crossing the whitewash. 

Rookie halfback Brad Schneider slotted the conversion to clinch a 24-19 win in front of the home fans at GIO Stadium.

‘I was just about to say a very good and smart set from the Cronulla Sharks […] but Jesse Ramien, what are you doing?,’ Cronk said while commentating on the game for Fox Sports.

‘Just let them [the Raiders] catch the ball, land on him and allow you to have dominant field position in these last five minutes.’ 

The Sharks winger collided with Nick Cotric as he steadied himself to collect a high ball

Ramien couldn’t stop himself and charged into the Raiders winger, giving away a penalty

The infringement handed the Raiders possession with just six minutes left on the clock

Cronk’s feelings were echoed on social media by several Sharks fans, who blamed Ramien for the defeat.

‘Jesse Ramien robbed me of Matt Moylan kicking the match winning field goal I need to have a lie down,’ one Twitter user wrote.

Another added: Fact is, we win that game if not for a Jesse Ramien brain snap.’

Sharks fans were furious after Ramien’s blunder robbed them of an opening day win

Cronulla supporters blamed the winger’s brain-fade for the defeat against Canberra

Other fans called for Ramien to be dropped after his blunder.

‘Jesse Ramien HAS to be dropped. I’ve never seen such a constant liability in Rugby League,’ one fan argued.

‘Absolutely walking brain explosion. Misses countless tackles a game, gives away stupid penalties and the rest is just dumb play. I don’t even think Fitzy [Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon] can fix him.’

Ramien’s mistake on Friday was the latest in a litany of errors Sharks fans have grown tired of

And several Cronulla supporters called for the 24-year-old to be dropped after his mistake

Ramien was persona non grata among Sharks fans following the game on Friday night

‘Jesse Ramien should be hooked/dropped, it’s impossible to be that bad and dumb,’ another added.

Meanwhile, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart revealed he could barely watch the closing stages of the game after his team relinquished a 12-point lead.

Canberra led 18-6, but found themselves trailing by a point after Sharks five-eighth Matt Moylan hit a perfect drop goal to put the visitors ahead with six minutes to play. 

Hudson Young scored a late try to seal a massive victory for the Raiders in the opening round

Canberra took an 18-6 lead and looked to be cruising to a comfortable opening round win 

But the Sharks hit back and led 19-18 with just six minutes to play before Ramien’s blunder 

‘I certainly don’t enjoy those endings, but I enjoy the scoreboard at the end of it,’ Stuart said.

‘The first half was weight of possession and field position […] we did the right thing in regards to scoring the points.

‘That turned to the Sharks and they racked up some points, so it was a tough game.’