Cronulla's impressive 54-22 victory over the Titans was tempered by a suspected ACL injury to inspirational captain Cameron McInnes at Sharks Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After a tough loss to the Dragons last week, the Sharks piled on 10 tries as they racked up their highest score of the season in front of a passionate home crowd.
Halfback Nicho Hynes and wingers Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo all scored doubles in a clinical performance, though defensive lapses towards the end of the match with the result already in hand took away some of the gloss.
Match: Sharks v Titans
Round 24 -
home Team
Sharks
4th Position
away Team
Titans
17th Position
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
McInnes will go for scans after leaving the field in the 21st minute, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon conceding his skipper could be out long term.
Hynes opened the scoring in the second minute after chasing his own perfectly placed kick, but ecstasy turned to agony for the playmaker when he threw an intercept that allowed the Titans to hit back through Jaylan De Groot.
A boilover appeared to be brewing with Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson making a line break and setting up centre Beau Fermor for a try moments later.
Sharks interchange forward Jesse Colquhoun eased the hosts' concerns as he collected his first NRL try after tracking a bomb from five-eighth Braydon Trindall in the 22nd minute. Cronulla quickly followed that up when centre Mawene Hiroti strode clear and put the supporting Hynes over for an early brace.
Trindall's boot continued to prove lethal, the pivot benefitting from a Mulitalo tap-back to add his name to the scoresheet for a 22-10 lead after 31 minutes.
Capping off a dominant first-half display, a brilliant cross-field kick from Hiroti led to a well-deserved try for fullback Will Kennedy.
The one-way traffic resumed after the break with Mulitalo snaring his 41st try in as many games at Sharks Stadium. The flanker wasted no time recording his 42nd four-pointer, crossing the line in similar fashion to his first try on the left edge.
On the other side, fellow flyer Sione Katoa soon joined the try-scoring fun before front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha muscled over the stripe. Hynes' sixth conversion propelled the Sharks to 50 points for the first time in 2025.
Katoa secured his second in the 65th minute to round out Cronulla's try tally.
Giving their fans something to cheer about, Titans centre Phillip Sami went the distance after taking an intercept. Gold Coast second-rower Josh Patson then slid under the posts to set up a simple conversion and a final margin of 32 points.
The Sharks will enjoy a bye next week before facing the Knights in Round 26.
