Despite a late scare, the Sharks have broken a three-game losing run in their first game in Perth in 18 years.
Result
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26
Tries: Braydon Trindall 2 (44, 57), Mawene Hiroti (17), Sione Katoa (23)
Goals: Nicho Hynes (18, 24, 32, 46, 58)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
Tries: Alex Johnston (63), Lachlan Ilias (64), Isaiah Tass (73)
Goals: Latrell Mitchell 2 (63, 65)
Report
The Cronulla Sharks have breathed new life into their premiership campaign, producing a stunning performance to beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs in front of 45,814 fans in the second match of the Optus Stadium double-header.
They made it far harder for themselves than they should have, inviting the Rabbitohs back into the contest late after leading 26-0, however they did enough in the first hour to ensure Wade Graham celebrated his 250th club game in style.
Connor Tracey came close to opening the scoring for the Sharks in the seventh minute, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle by Latrell Mitchell.
They eventually got on the board in the 18th minute when Mawene Hiroti evaded the defence and swerved through to score. Nicho Hynes converted for a 6-0 lead.
A charging run from Jesse Ramien took the Sharks into attacking range again in the 24th minute, before an excellent offload to Sione Katoa saw the winger step past Mitchell to score their second. Hynes again converted to push the lead to 12-0.
The Rabbitohs began to ask questions in the 30th minute, however a dangerous situation was shut down with an intercept by Siosifa Talakai.
A Hynes penalty goal extended the Sharks lead to 14-0, before Graham came within millimetres of scoring the Sharks’ third.
Alex Johnston looked to have finally gotten the Rabbitohs on the board two minutes before half time, only for the try to be overturned by the bunker when replays revealed Katoa had dragged his foot into touch just before he grounded the ball, leaving the Sharks leading 14-0 at the break.
The Sharks continued their good form to start the second half, with Brayden Trindall running a perfect line off Hynes after they’d declined a shot at penalty goal following an escort. Hynes again converted to push the Sharks out to 20-0.
A controversial knock on ruled against Cameron McInnes, despite the influence of Jai Arrow laying in the ruck, gave the Rabbitohs a golden opportunity to get on the board in the 50th minute. Only an extraordinary tackle by Hiroti kept Campbell Graham from touching down from a bomb.
The Sharks further extended their lead in the 58th minute when Trindall grubbered through for Hiroti, who batted the ball back in to Talakai, to attempt a grubber that ricocheted back to Trindall for his second. Hynes’ conversion extended the lead to 26-0.
The Rabbitohs finally came to life in the final 20, first when Johnston finally got his customary try on the left, then when he made another break in the following set and found Lachlan Ilias with a kick on the inside. Mitchell converted both to cut the deficit to 26-12.
With time running out, the Sharks began to panic their way towards the end, coming up with numerous cheap turnovers and allowing Isaiah Tass to score out wide and reduce the margin to 26-16.
Tom Burgess found himself sin binned in the dying minutes for a high shot however it mattered little as the Sharks held on to claim the ten-point win and two vital competition points.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Braydon Trindall (Sharks)
2 – Sione Katoa (Sharks)
1 – Tallis Duncan (Rabbitohs)
