Jack Harbidge reviews the Round 11 clash between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 4th | Try Tyrell Fuimaono (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 4-0 |
| 5th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 6-0 |
| 9th | Try Jack Williams (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | St George Illawarra 6-4 |
| 10th | Goal Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Scores tied 6-6 |
| 17th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 8-6 |
| 19th | Try Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 12-6 |
| 20th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 14-6 |
| 23rd | Try Sione Katoa (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | St George Illawarra 14-10 |
| 28th | Try Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Scores tied 14-14 |
| 30th | Goal Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Cronulla-Sutherland 16-14 |
| 33rd | Try William Kennedy (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Cronulla-Sutherlandย 20-14 |
| 34th | Goal Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Cronulla-Sutherland 22-14 |
| 43rd | Try Aaron Woods (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Cronulla-Sutherland 26-14 |
| 45th | Goal Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Suthlerand) | Cronulla-Sutherland 28-14 |
| 52nd | Try Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | Cronulla-Sutherland 28-18 |
| 57th | Try Mikaele Ravalwa (St George Illawarra) | Cronulla-Sutherland 28-22 |
| 58th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | Cronulla-Sutherland 28-24 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
The first half proved a fruitful affair, with six tries in a balanced battle between the Sharks and Dragons. The first came just four minutes in with Tyrell Fuimaono pouncing on a loose ball off the back of a strip from Cronulla in the act of scoring. It wasn’t long before Cronulla levelled up with yet another contentious try given by the Bunker, which adjudicated that Jack Williams beat Dufty to the end of an attacking kick from the Sharks. The points continued to flow between the two sides: following a penalty goal, Zac Lomax converted an exquisite team try with a clinical individual finish to put the visitors eight points ahead half-way through the first half. The Sharks rallied, producing three unanswered tries through Sione Katoa, Shaun Johnson, and William Kennedy to head into the sheds eight points up.
2nd Half
The Sharks picked up where they left off in the first half, opening the scoring through Aaron Woods, who spun his way over just to the side of the uprights. Soon after, the attack dried up for Cronulla and the Dragons gained a foothold in the game, scoring back-to-back tries through Zac Lomax and Mikaele Ravalawa (within five minutes) to get within four points of the Sharks. The Dragons looked to be in the ascendancy for the second part of the second half and went close with Matt Dufty and Jason Saab unable to ground two opportunities off the back of kicks late on. Nevertheless, the game went down to the wire with St George mounting a last-minute attack to get level but Cronulla stayed resolute in defence to seal a 28-24 victory.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
Aside from a couple of exceptional tries involving Zac Lomax, the main highlight came in the form of a Sione Katoa celebration as part of the Try July initiative. Katoa slid over off the back of a well-executed shape down the right edge and promptly brought the coconut celebration out of retirement. One of the best creators of entertaining try celebrations, Henry Fa’afili famously cracked the coconut after crossing for the Warriors off the back of a similar finish; it was great to see the celebration honoured by Katoa in an important win for the Sharks.
SQUADS
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: 1.ย Will Kennedyย 2. Sione Katoaย 4.ย Jesse Ramienย 5.ย Ronaldo Mulitaloย 6.ย Shaun Johnsonย 7.ย Chad Townsendย 8.ย Braden Hamlin-Ueleย 9.ย Blayke Braileyย 10.ย Aaron Woodsย 11.ย Siosifa Talakaiย 12. Wade Graham 15. Jack Williams. Interchange: 13.ย Toby Rudolfย 14. Connor Traceyย ย 16.ย Teig Wiltonย 17. Royce Hunt.
St. George Illawarra Dragons: 1.ย Matthew Duftyย 2.ย Jason Saabย 3.ย Euan Aitkenย 4.ย Zac Lomaxย 5.ย Mikaele Ravalawaย 6.ย Corey Normanย 7.ย Adam Cluneย 8.ย Blake Lawrieย 9.ย Ben Huntย 10.ย Paul Vaughanย 11.ย Tyson Frizellย 12.ย Tyrell Fuimaonoย 13. Cameron McInnes. Interchange: 14.ย Trent Merrinย 15.ย Josh Kerrย 16.ย Jacob Hostย 17. Jackson Ford.
