It was match moved between three or four different venues due to ground closures associated with Sydney’s big wet, however in the end the location of the game mattered little with the Roosters proving too good for the Sharks in their round 19 Jersey Flegg clash.
It was a game which was always going to be a challenge for the Sharks against a side sitting clear on top of the under-21 ladder, however poor handling helped little as the Roosters ran away with a 26-6 victory.
A frustrated coach George Ndaira couldn’t fault his team’s commitment, however he was disappointed in the ball control which gifted the Roosters far too much possession.
“The attitude and effort was outstanding, we just need to be better in our execution and hold the footy,” Ndaira said.
“Defensively we were good, but we had to do too much of it. Our completion rate in the first half was only 46%, we finished at 475 for the game it doesn’t matter level your playing at, it just makes it tough.
“Until the boys can learn and understand that I guess we’ll be in the same position next week,” he added.
The first 20 minutes of the match was something of an arm wrestle, with neither side asserting any dominance, but according to the Sharks coach it was perhaps this period of the game where the Sharks needed to take their chances and post points.
“We created opportunities early in the game but we just didn’t ice them and take those opportunities when they presented themselves that was probably the difference,” Ndaira said. “If we take those opportunities and put some scoreboard pressure on I think the game changes.”
The Roosters scored their first try in the 22nd minutes of the match, managed a second before the break and took a 12-0 lead to half time.
Their dominance continued in the second period, two more converted tries, then a penalty goal pushing the lead out to 26-0, before a late Sharks try to backrower and skipper Kai Parker broke the duck for the Cronulla side.
The loss by the Sharks, their second in a row, see them sitting in fourth position but just one point ahead of the fifth and sixth placed teams who still have round 19 matches to play.
Next up for the Flegg Sharks is a game against Souths at PointsBet Stadium next Saturday.
SHARKS 6
Kai Parker try, Trentham Peterson goal
Lost to
ROOSTERS 26
