Cronulla have continued their winning ways over the Wests Tigers with a 36-12 win at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night.
Result
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 36
Tries: (7) Sione Katoa 15th, 45th, 79th; Siosifa Talaka 22nd, 67th; Jesse Ramien 56th; Nicho Hynes 72nd
Goals: (4) Nicho Hynes 10th, 23rd, 47th, 69th
Wests Tigers 12
Tries: (2) Tommy Talau 27th, Shawn Blore 39th
Goals: (2) Brandon Wakeham 28th, 40th
Report
The first points of the contest came courtesy of Nicho Hynes penalty goal – after a reasonably even affair – in the 10th minute. Cronulla extended the lead in the 15th minute when Sione Katoa crashed over in the corner for a try that looked dubious at best but confirmed by The Bunker.
That lead grew further in the 22nd minute when Siosifa Talakai charged through the Tigers’ goal-line defence, with the final pass supplied by Hynes, who also kicked the sideline conversion for a 12-0 lead. But not long after the Wests Tigers had their best attacking chance of the half and took the opportunity to score their first try. Tommy Talau was the try scorer and did well to break through three Sharks defenders from 10 metres out to score. Brandon Wakeham converted to reduce the score to 12-6.
Cronulla did extend their lead temporarily, when Hynes was on hand for a spilled bomb, but The Bunker eventually overruled for the contact in the air. To double down on the disallowed try, the Tigers drew level just before half time when Shawn Blore scored – ironically after the Sharks dropped a bomb themselves. It was a great try from Blore (his first ever NRL try), who charged through the Sharks’ line from 15 metres out to score under the posts.
The Sharks bit first in the second half (five minutes in), when Katoa grabbed his second try of the night after the entire Cronulla spine (plus Jesse Ramien) were involved in the lead up. Hynes converted to extend the lead to 18-12. The lead looked like it was short-lived when Tommy Talau outjumped his Sharks rival from a cross-field kick to score his second of the night, but The Bunker interrupted the celebrating with a No Try verdict.
Ramien extended the lead and the Tigers’ pain not long after and coincidentally benefitted from a spilled bomb by Talau. Hynes missed the conversion but the Sharks were now comfortably 10 points ahead. Cronulla went further ahead when Siosifa Talakai steam rolled his way down the blind side in the 67th minute. Hynes converted for a 28-12 lead.
Hynes then helped himself to a try in the 72nd minute, when he was in support from a Blayke Brailey break from dummy half down the blind side, with Hynes contorting his body to get the ball down. And with seven seconds to go Katoa sealed the game with his third try of the night with the usual acrobatics on show in the corner. The missed conversion was a blot of Hynes’ SuperCoach points total only, and the Sharks had won comfortably 36-12.
The win makes it 10 wins in their past 11 matches with the Wests Tigers, leaving the Tigers with just five wins from 15 when playing home games at CommBank Stadium. It’s also seven wins in eight on a Thursday for the Sharks and a sixth straight loss for the Tigers on Thursday. Cronulla also maintain their top four spot on the ladder.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
2 – Siosifa Talakai (Sharks)
1 – Blayke Brailey (Sharks)
