Sharks 20 Panthers 21

LANCE THOMPSON'S farewell erupted into high drama last night when a Brett Kimmorley field goal was disallowed in extra time before the Panthers snuck home.

One of the most lion-hearted careers of the modern era drew to a close when Sharks backrower Thompson hobbled into retirement with the kind of battered body you could only get from having performed a colossal amount of hard work since making his debut 13 years and 239 first-grade clashes ago.

He overcame an early bout of nervous handling errors to score in the 15th minute. A normally undemonstrative man, Thompson threw the ball high and roared. In the centenary year, he partied like it was 1909.

Offloads, bullocking runs, defence with intent - he had a blinder.

The game went to extra time at 20-all. The Sharks were convinced Kimmorley landed a 40 metre field goal - but referee Sean Hamsptead disallowed it in the most controversial possible ending. Panthers halfback Jarrod Sammut later booted the match-winner to break Thompson's heart.

He requested 60 tickets from the Sharks for his last hurrah. They got him 25 for the grandstand, with the rest of his mates on the hill.

The crowd was littered with people in Sharks jumpers and red wigs.

Anthony Mundine sat quietly beneath a black cap.

Thompson received a standing ovation before the game, at half-time and again at full-time.

What has he been?

The heart and soul of many a side.

A player prepared to do the tough and unglamorous stuff. At St George for a decade and most recently at the Sharks, he's been a man who all other players wanted in their side. There's no greater recommendation than that. He was denied an honour he should have received somewhere along the way - a NSW jumper - without a single word of complaint.

Not everyone has to make the Team of The Century to earn respect.

Before the start of the match, he walked up the tunnel wiping moisture - tears? - from his face. He threw the towel down and ran out.

Fireworks went off. Problem was, the teams had lined up on the wrong ends of the field. They swapped quickly. The cause of Thomspon's retirement, his bung right knee, was heavily strapped. He was not always able to run freely. It was the opening of the new Toyota Stadium and the Sharks first home game of the year. A throng of 13,852 turned up. Sponsorship stickers were still being placed on the cross bars about 10 minutes before kick-off. Thompson missed a tackle on Petero Civoniceva. Then knocked-on right in front of his own goal posts. Nathan Smith scored under the black dot almost immediately and it was 6-0 to the visitors.

Thompson gave a miracle one-handed ball with three Panthers on his back. Sharks five-eighth Brett Seymour put through a grubber for Greg Bird to score and it was 6-all.

Thompson dropped a kick-off, but it went backwards.

And then came his magic moment.

A kick from Kimmorley came off Penrith winger Luke Rooney's chest and sat up for Thompson to simply grab it and dive over to score. The Sharks were up 10-6 at half-time and it all started going to script. A bullocking run from Thompson knocked Luke Priddis on his backside. He nearly scored again.

Adjusted the strapping on his knee and marched to a scrum. More offloads, more hit-ups, every second taking him close to the end.

Thompson was given a break in the 46th minute. With nine minutes left, he was dancing on his toes, waiting for his final fling. By the time he returned, the Sharks had blown a 20-10 lead to be 20-all with three minutes to go. Sharks players celebrated Kimmorley's one-point attempt in extra time, only for referee Sean Hampstead to disallow it.

PENRITH 21 (M Gordon M Jennings L Rooney N Smith tries J Sammut  2 goals J Sammut field goal) bt CRONULLA 20 (G Bird 2 F Anderson L Thompson tries L Covell 2 goals) in golden-point extra time at Toyota Park. Referee: S Hampstead. Crowd: 13,852.