Sharks outlast Eels to secure Magic Round victory

The Sharks went into half-time leading 12-6 before pulling clear with back-to-back tries. Parramatta rallied to reduce the margin to four inside the final 20 minutes, but Cronulla landed the knockout blow through Stonestreet to secure the win.

Sharks centre KL Iro marked his return from a hamstring injury with the opening try in the 11th minute, charging onto a delightful cut-out pass from Hynes.

Parramatta dominated field possession for the next stretch of play but couldn't convert territory into points with Cronulla muscling up in defence.

Fresh on the field, Siosifa Talakai walked up the tunnel for a game-ending HIA in the 33rd minute after impacting the ground while making a cover tackle. 

With Braydon Trindall then penalised for a late shot on playmaking counterpart Mitch Moses, the Eels finally capitalised on a wave of possession when five-eighth Dylan Brown floated a pass for winger Josh Addo-Carr to cross on the left edge.

Sean Russell's conversion locked the scores with the break looming, but the Sharks had the last say as Hynes stepped up again. The No.7 delivered a sensational flat pass to send back-rower Briton Nikora hurtling into a hole and over the line, booting the goal from next to the posts to give Cronulla a six-point lead.

After an even start to the second half, the Sharks surged further ahead through the prolific Stonestreet following a slick right-side raid. Hynes was involved once more, linking with fullback Will Kennedy who placed a delicate grubber for the flanker to touch down. Hynes was unable to convert from sideline.

Momentum turned against Cronulla in the 53rd minute when forward Jesse Colquhoun was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul, ruled to have intentionally impeded a supporting Eel as Moses made a line break.

But after warding off Parramatta's offence, the Sharks asserted their dominance with Trindall nailing a 40-20 kick to earn a golden opportunity at the other end.

Captain Cameron McInnes ensured his team took full advantage, the lock running off Hynes' hip and spinning his way over for a well-deserved four-pointer.

But there were signs of life for Parramatta, Addo-Carr collecting his double in the 60th minute and centre Russell adding the extras to make it 22-12.

The Eels quickly fired another shot with a long-range try to Brown, who had loomed up in support of Moses after the incumbent NSW Origin halfback found himself in open space courtesy of a clever J'maine Hopgood offload.

With the game in the balance, Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo produced a mighty leap to pouch a cross-field kick and very nearly score as he contorted his body on the way down, fumbling at the last moment. While Cronulla were awarded a penalty for a mid-air tackle, a handling error put paid to their attacking foray.

The pressure valve was released in the 71st minute as the Sharks kicked clear, Stonestreet seizing yet another try-scoring brace to stretch the margin to eight.

A Hynes penalty goal on the buzzer wrapped up a strong win for Cronulla, who will now face the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park on Sunday, May 11.