It wasn’t perfect but the Sharks are back in the winner's circle, thanks to their big men standing up in key moments, inspiring the side from 8-points down to beat the Titans 22-30.
The Sharks' resilience shone through after multiple disallowed tries and frustrating moments, Nicho Hynes and Will Kennedy with two try assists each helping to keep Cronulla’s top 4 hopes alive.
In a game that saw Sione Katoa score a four-pointer called the ‘best finish of the season,’ and Ronaldo Mulitalo became the club’s second greatest try-scorer, surpassing the legendary David Peachey.
Ronaldo Mulitalo Try
He did so in classic Mulitalo fashion, claiming the first try of the game and firing up his side as he also became the ninth highest points scorer in the club’s history.
The Sharks followed up with a few more opportunities to score early doors but couldn’t finish them off, and the Titans made them pay as Jojo Fifita crossed in the corner.
The score was 4 all after 17 minutes with Nicho Hynes and Jayden Campbell both missing their opening conversions from the sideline.
A forward pass pinched a try off Sione Katoa at the start of the match, but he eventually got his four-pointer from a slick right-side play that saw Hynes find Will Kennedy in space, and the fullback sent his winger over to add his 13th try assist of the season.
Sione Katoa Try
Katoa going level on 12 tries with KL Iro as Cronulla’s top try scorers this season, but Cronulla’s top point-scorer Hynes couldn’t convert this time from the right edge.
Then the second-last placed Titans went on a run scoring back-to-back tries down the left, with AJ Brimson and Phil Sami crossing and Campbell converting both to take a 16-8 lead after 33 minutes.
That score would remain as they went into the break after a frustrating final few minutes for the black, white and blue.
Just when the Sharks looked in some trouble, the co-captains inspired their side with Blayke Brailey finding Cam McInnes close to the line, and the unheralded champion charged over for what could be one of the most important tries of his career. Hynes converted to bring his side within 2 points of the Gold Coast.
Cameron McInnes Try
A fired-up Cronulla outfit raced up field the next set and a Niwhai Puru bomb was expertly marked by Mulitalo surrounded by Titans, but he found Teig Wilton who then passed to Hynes who ran in to put the Sharks in front, or so they thought. An offside ruling called it back and the scored remained 16-14 in favour of the Titans.
Frustration again threatened to shake the Sharks, but Addin Fonua-Blake refused to listen. Fresh from the club unveiling a mural of Andrew Fifita’s 2016 grand final winning try, AFB did his best impression, beating multiple defenders to barge his way over and put Cronulla in front in the 58th minute after losing the lead in the 27th minute.
Addin Fonua-Blake Try
Cronulla’s big men digging them out of a hole and resurrecting the side as the Sharks’ attack clicked into gear.
Hynes followed up with back-to-back brilliant double cut outs to set up his right and left wingers.
Sione Katoa 2nd Try
Katoa’s try called “one of the best finishes of all-time” as he bagged his 9th try against the Titans, diving like a dolphin over his opposing winger to score and overtake Iro as the club’s top try scorer this season.
Mulitalo also picked up his 9th try against the Titans to see Cronulla’s reliable wing pairing hold the club record for most against the Gold Coast.
Ronaldo Mulitalo 2nd Try
The Sharks pulling away to win 30-22 to break a two-game losing streak and keep the club’s top 4 hopes alive.
Cronulla now prepare for Parramatta at CommBank Stadium next Sunday, which could be Mulitalo’s 150th game and Jesse Colquhoun’s 50th as well.
The Sharks final home game is against the Storm the week after, a match in which the club will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its famous 2016 grand final win.
Get your tickets for that must-watch match HERE.
Titans v Sharks - Round 25, 2026
