Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has ensured that the bad blood between his team and the Melbourne Storm will continue after Melbourne’s 18-13 win over the premiers on Thursday night.

Flanagan targeted Storm legend and captain Cameron Smith saying the hooker manipulated the referees despite the Sharks winning the penalty count 8-5.

“They were at their best wrestle Melbourne Storm today,” Flanagan said after the match.

“It was slow, it was frustrating. Referee Smith did a good job.”

.@camsmith9 has produced 4, 40-20 kick for the season. Twice as many as any other player in the comp #purplepride pic.twitter.com/SVrOUFXGS8

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) June 8, 2017

“I watched him closely today.

“He managed the game perfectly, he got off the line early.

“I can complain about it as much as I like during the week, but he just does it very, very good. I wish we had a couple of them.

“He’s just a good player. He know how to flaunt the rules, push the referees or whatever it is.

“He’s the best at it and he showed tonight he had one of those games.”

Smith received Man of the Match and three votes in the Steele Sports Medal.