A depleted Sharks side were brave but couldn't quite match motors with the Broncos in a 28-14 Magic Round loss on Saturday as captain Tiana Penitani Gray joined an extensive injury list.
The game, which was delayed by 10 minutes due to thunderstorms in the area, was played in torrential rain at McDonald Jones Stadium. The teams were then forced from the field early in the first half when lightning was seen overhead.
The Sharks trailed 22-0 at the break after losing Penitani Gray to a head knock – the last thing they needed with a host of big guns already sidelined.
Broncos fullback Tamika Upton ran riot with a hat-trick, scoring her third try early in the second half to leave Cronulla a steep mountain to climb. The task was made harder with second-rower Annessa Biddle forced off by a shoulder issue.
Down to two players on the bench, the Sharks kept plugging away and were rewarded with tries to centre Grace-Lee Weekes – her first in the NRLW – winger Georgia Ravics and prop Ellie Johnston in an encouraging finish in Newcastle.
Cronulla could ill afford to lose Penitani Gray and Biddle's experience and leadership, having gone into the Round 5 match already missing the starpower of Emma Verran, Brooke Anderson, Rhiannon Byers, Stephanie Faulkner, Jaydika Tafua, Jada Taylor, Caitlan Johnston-Green and Filomina Hanisi.
Sharks halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu forced a rare error from Upton with a bomb in the opening stages, but the Broncos weapon quickly redeemed herself as she scythed through Cronulla's defence to draw first blood in the ninth minute.
Lightning paused the game shortly after Upton's try. Brisbane retained the momentum when play resumed, though the Sharks valiantly kept them at bay. It took another piece of Upton brilliance for the Broncos to break through, their talismanic No.1 this time zooming onto a crafty grubber from Ali Brigginshaw.
Despite the 12-0 scoreline after 21 minutes, there were signs of life from Cronulla. Playmaker Kiria-Ratu showed her class with a line break from a skilful show-and-go, but the Broncos swarmed and forced an error as she passed inside.
Upton was heavily involved for Brisbane's third try. Spotting Penitani Gray down in backplay, Upton directed the ball to Cronulla's outnumbered left edge and delivered a splendid cut-out ball for centre Julia Robinson to score.
Hooker Destiny Brill powered over from close range on the stroke of half-time to send the Broncos into the sheds holding a commanding lead.
Upton completed her treble three minutes into the second half, reaching into her bag of tricks as she collected a well-placed chip from Gayle Broughton.
But the gritty Sharks ensured their travelling supporters had reason to cheer, finishing with a flurry to add a sheen of respectability to the final margin.
Weekes slid over the line after a slick exchange of passing to put her team on the board before Ravics followed suit on the right edge. Johnston then proved too powerful close to the line to cap off Cronulla's gutsy performance.
The Sharks will regroup ahead of a clash with the Dragons in an NRL double-header at Kogarah next Saturday as they look to improve on their 2-3 record.
