The Sharks suffered a tough 27-8 loss to the Roosters, one that has ended Cronulla’s four-game winning streak.
It was a match that saw Nicho Hynes (calf) and Blayke Brailey (arm) both successfully return from injury, while the Sharks Origin representatives, Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora, also got through the game unscathed.
The Sharks' defence was rock-solid in the first 15 minutes, with the Roosters struggling to pass their 50-metre line in the early stages.
When the Roosters did manage to gain the ascendancy, Braydon Trindall pulled off a brilliant try-saver on Mark Nawaqanitawase, who had a shoelace on the sideline.
It took a slick bit of ball work to crack Cronulla, Lindsay Collins crossed on fifteen minutes, and Sam Walker missed the conversion for the home team to lead 4-0.
From there, the tricolours gained momentum and continued to ask questions. The Sharks defended bravely, but an unlucky bounce from a kick led to a Robert Toia try. The conversion missed, and it was 8-0 Roosters.
Cronulla forward Billy Burns nearly plucked a Roosters wayward pass out of the air and could have run away with it from the Sharks' side of the field, but the error gave the Roosters a sniff, and they went on to score a third try of the night through Billy Smith. Walker, this time, converted the extras to make it 14-0.
A clever short kick off from Blayke Brailey was pounced on by Nicho Hynes, and momentum swung in the final moments of the half. The Sharks wouldn’t score that set, but an error from Spencer Leniu in the next gave Cronulla optimal field position.
A perfectly timed long ball from Trindall saw Ronaldo Mulitalo over in the left corner to get the Sharks on the board. Hynes’ kick missed off the post as they went into the sheds 14-4 in favour of the Chooks.
Cronulla kept that momentum going after the break. A high shot from Leniu gave the Sharks field position, and Hynes made full use of it to set up Sione Katoa with a beautiful long ball. The conversion missed, and the score was 14-8.
Back-to-back penalties helped the Roosters add two points to the score with a penalty goal, giving them an eight-point advantage at 16-8 with under 30 minutes remaining. A great effort from Katoa to defend a bomb resulted in a likely broken nose for James Tedesco.
Minutes later, another contest, this time from a Sharks dropout, appeared to show Mark Nawaqanitawase knock on, but upon review a penalty was given to the Roosters for a tackle in the air. The Roosters winger would then go over to score the following set, giving them a 20-8 lead with Walker missing the conversion.
A desperate Sharks tried to turn the tide. Hynes put Teig Wilton through a gap, and he connected with Will Kennedy, but the cover defence caught him 10 metres out. The tricolours defended the next set, then marched up field, and Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a field goal to make it 21-8 with under 10 minutes on the clock.
Mulitalo went close to crashing over in the corner for a consolation try, if not for some stringent defence, before the Roosters marched upfield, and Nawaqanitawase claimed his second try of the night. Walker converted, with the Final score 27-8 to the Roosters.
The Sharks now have the bye and two weeks before they take on the Broncos in Brisbane on the 4th of July.
That Round 18 clash is scheduled for a 7:35pm kick-off.
