Cronulla storm home to bring Raiders back to earth with a thud

SHARKS 36 RAIDERS 22

KEY POINTS

HOW TO SKIN A CAT: Craig Fitzgibbon is as polite as an NRL coach gets, but he will bristle when his team’s ability to compete with the game’s best is questioned. Twenty-five minutes into this one, there was no questioning it. Cronulla weren’t competing at all. And that’s what will please Fitzgibbon most given the final scoreline. The Sharks came to life against the Warriors and again staring down Canberra for two impressive comebacks against 2023 finalists. Their back five put in big stints with each man running for more than 100 metres and Brayden Trindall returned to form in the halves. Their starts to each game are a massive concern, no doubt. But the Sharks are 3-1 with two wins they probably wouldn’t have jagged in previous years. Not bad.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CANBERRA?: For 10 minutes they were happy to trade errors with Cronulla. For the next 15 they absolutely smoked them. And then after that… nothing. With big-name big men Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine taking a breather possession swung, and the Raiders just couldn’t cope. Basic mistakes cruelled any chance they got and gave the Sharks plenty of their own – Xavier Savage’s casual trot back for a kick that resulted in Blayke Brailey’s try won’t look pretty on replay. Cronulla went after their right-edge defence and found critical second-half tries.

BIG SHARKS TAKE A BIG STEP: Take Dale Finucane, Toby Rudolf and Royce Hunt out of any front-row rotation and the opposition will fancy their chances, but Cronulla’s first-half revival came on the back of their back. Underrated middle Jack Williams had a serious impact when he entered the fray, as did former Rooster Tuku Hau Tapuha, who was playing just his second game for the club after moving to the Shire early last year. Cameron McInnes did not stop moving in the middle – finishing with 150 metres, 20 runs and 47 tackles – as usual either but for the youngsters, especially Tapuha, this was a big performance.

KEY STATISTICS

A big break by Ronnie Mulitalo as Cronulla get home, Sione Katoa finishing it off in the corner. And just to finish it off, Hynes bends it back from the sideline with yet another beautiful kick. Turns to the crowd and says what more do you want. That’s full time, the Sharks convincing winners in the end.

Sharks 36 Raiders 22

The Raiders aren’t done yet. Cronulla gave them a sniff with a series of repeat sets from six-again infringements, and with eight minutes to go James Schiller is diving over for his second of the night. Jordan Rapana picking a disjointed line to pieces with a smart cut-out ball.

Jamal Fogarty drills the sideline conversion attempt – some lovely kicking by both he and Nicho Hynes tonight – but it hammers into the upright and bounces back. Canberra have to score twice now.

Sharks 30 Raiders 22

And now Cronulla should be home. Will Kennedy’s had a tough night at the office but that was rather nice.

The Sharks came down the short side through Hynes with Kennedy under pressure at the line. He grubbered at short notice, much tougher than he made it look, and sat it up perfectly for Mulitalo’s second in the corner. And Hynes curls another one through the posts from the sideline.

Sharks 30 Raiders 18

There it is. Cronulla are in front for the first time in the game, just shy of the 60-minute game. Brayden Trindall scurrying across the line, dummying inside and out and Jamal Fogarty drifts across with it.

Kayal Iro, 24 and playing his second game of NRL, hits a great line and spears in for a try. Hynes converts and remarkably, this is now the Sharks game.

Sharks 24 Raiders 18

After all the four-pointers and fumbles of the first half we’re scoreless through the first 15 minutes of the second stanza. Back and forth contest so far. Rapana starting to get himself involved with the type of stuff that will either win or lose you a game in an instant.

Speaking of… Ronaldo Mulitalo throws a ball over to Will Kennedy after a clutch take under the high ball. Kennedy has had a bit of a nightmare tonight and he spills it. Canberra on the attack. And then they’re not. Corey Horsburgh drops it cold at the line.

Sharks 18 Raiders 18

That’s tough to watch, Zac Hosking was out before he hit the ground there. Went in low on Cam McInnes and the late step from the Sharks lock clocked Hosking awkwardly.

Nothing illegal in it but he went down straight away. Worried about the neck and he’s got a bit of claret at the back of his head. Hosking’s able to walk off under his own steam but that is a Category 1 and the end of his day. Sharks on the attack but they cough up possession.

Sharks 18 Raiders 18

We’re back underway after the break. In the last 15 minutes of that first half Cronulla had 19 tackles inside Canberra’s 20-metre zone and 10 sets, completing eight of them.

The Raiders, just one set completed from four in the same period. Sharks with all the momentum.

Sharks 18 Raiders 18

Tit for tat with fumbles everywhere you look and tries in between. The Sharks swing left through Hynes and the youngster Kayal Iro. Ronaldo Mulitalo with plenty of work to do out wide but he shoves his way through the cover defence and burrows over. Hynes nails the touchline conversion too, hooking in off the post.

Somehow, the Sharks are in this game and despite Canberra absolutely dominating this contest so far.

One set later, we’re at level scores! Madness. Crossfield kick from Blayke Brailey and Xavier Savage is very casual in getting back to cover it. Sione Katoa nips in behind him to regather, Sharks loom in support and it’s Brailey swooping onto a loose ball.

Sharks 18 Raiders 18