The football wasn’t pretty and the result equally unattractive for the Sharks who have gone down by 10-2 to the Brisbane Broncos at Remondis Stadium.
A combination of outstanding scrambling defense and again far too many errors for the liking of Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, the Cronulla side failed to break the Brisbane resolve or their try line for that matter as they slipped to their second defeat is as many matches.
The Broncos rarely dazzled in attack either, however two fortuitous tries were enough to claim the points and to get their season off to a winning start.
Both sides refused to give an inch during the opening exchanges, with solid Brisbane defense denying the Sharks after three attacking sets on their line.
The Sharks looked most likely when a Ricky Leutele line break amounted to nothing as the last pass went awry and other than Micheal Ennis limping from the field with a knee injury the first half passed without incident.
The only score in the first 40 minutes coming from a penalty goal to Sharks fullback Michael Gordon as the teams went to the break at 2-0 to the home side.
With Ennis returning after getting the all-clear on his injured knee it would be the visitors who would go on top, a messy bit of play down the left hand side resulting in Corey Oates diving over.
The conversion was successful and the Broncos had their first lead of the night at 6-2 seven minutes into the second half.
The match began to open up somewhat and the Sharks created a half chance when Gerard Beale slipped a neat pass to Gordon but again the Broncos scramble to defuse the situation and despite their best efforts after two penalties on the Brisbane line the Cronulla team failed to get over the line.
The second Brisbane try was equally as untidy as the first, Sam Thaiday appearing to knock the ball out of the hands of Sosaia Feki in the in-goal, with the other Broncos winger Lachlan Maranta on the spot to touch down.
Ben Hunt’s kick at goal rebounded off the posts but the Broncos had a handy 10-2 lead with less than 20 minutes of the match remaining.
The Sharks continued to press and the Broncos continued to repel their advances as numerous attacking raids amounted to nothing.
SHARKS 2
Michael Gordon goal
lost to
BRONCOS 10
Corey Oates, Lachlan Maranta tries, Ben Hunt goal
Crowd – 8,369
