An ice-cool field goal from halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu sealed a dramatic 19-18 golden-point win against the Knights after the Sharks overhauled a 14-point deficit on Sunday.
Cronulla winger Georgia Ravics bagged a hat-trick – with two of her tries coming in the final 10 minutes – before lock Brooke Anderson stormed through a gap to score under the posts on the stroke of full-time to set up an equalising conversion.
Match: Sharks v Knights
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
3rd Position
away Team
Knights
5th Position
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Kiria-Ratu kept her composure to drill the simple goal before stepping up in extra-time, the 20-year-old calmly potting the one-pointer from 20 metres out.
Kiria-Ratu wins it for the Sharks
It was a victory that never seemed likely for the Sharks, who now find themselves in third place and on a four-game winning streak with two rounds remaining.
Cronulla paid the price for an error-riddled start as the Knights opened the scoring in the third minute through winger Lilly-Ann White, who stepped around her opposite number Ravics in the north-western corner.
The hosts began to find their groove in attack but couldn't translate possession into points as second-rower Rhiannon Byers left the field with a leg injury.
Having held firm on their line, the Knights surged downfield before White added a second try to her tally thanks to smooth passing from her inside teammates.
Continuing a running battle, Ravics got one back against White when she pounced on her counterpart's error from a bomb to touch down in the 25th minute.
Georgia Ravics Try
Newcastle found success with the high ball themselves after half-time, winger Sheridan Gallagher crossing the stripe after the Steeden was allowed to bounce.
The visitors pulled further in front when halfback Jesse Southwell slung a cut-out ball to White, sending the flyer strolling into the in-goal for a hat-trick. Despite protests of a forward pass from the crowd, the try was awarded and Southwell rubbed salt into the wound when she drilled the goal for a 14-point lead.
Gaps began to appear for a fast-finishing Cronulla side, with speedy fullback Jada Taylor, hooker Georgia Hannaway and captain Tiana Penitani Gray troubling Newcastle, but the Sharks repeatedly failed to execute try-scoring opportunities.
Eventually, the hosts broke through as Ravics dived across to notch up a double after slick hands from playmaker Kiria-Ratu and the dynamic Taylor.
Georgia Ravics 2nd Try
Ravics quickly made it a treble, again enjoying a saloon passage to the line thanks to skilful lead-up work from Taylor to ensure a grandstand finish.
And the Sharks delivered in spades, Anderson bursting through a hole at the death to set the stage for Kiria-Ratu to show her class when it counted.
Georgia Ravics 3rd Try
With a finals berth now confirmed, Cronulla will face the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Brooke Anderson Try
