The result was probably out of reach when Connor Tracey was injected into the game against the Knights last Friday night but that didn’t stop the local junior from having a major impact as he attempted to turn the tide in the Sharks favour.
Tracey scored a try, had a clean line break, his running game posing a constant threat to the Newcastle defense, with Sharks members and fans recognizing his contribution by voting him as the Fan Poll Man of the Match for round 17.
With 37 per cent of the vote, Tracey was a clear choice, ahead of the consistent and hard-working Toby Rudolf who came in second in the fan poll voting.
Rudolf, in the week where he announced a contract extension with the Cronulla club, earned 15 per cent of the vote.
In third place from the Knights match was another of the Sharks more consistent performers in centre Josh Dugan (11 per cent), with Siosifa Talakai, Blayke Brailey and Chad Townsend, despite his second half send off, also attracting fan poll votes.
The Sharks Fan Poll Player of the Year voting has gone behind closed doors, with a winner to be announced following the final game of the 2020 season.
Shaun Johnson was leading from Dugan and Rudolf following round 13 when the yearly tally was last made public.