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Rarely has a comeback victory from 12 issues down been much less convincing.
Cronulla stormed again from an 18-6 deficit to swamp St George Illawarra at Shark Park on Thursday night time.
But if they suspect this 30-18 consequence will get them again heading in the right direction for a premiership tilt they’re kidding themselves.
The Sharks answered after a gradual get started however the Dragons went to water and in the event that they installed this type of efficiency towards the real name contenders, they are going to pay the cost.
1. Sharks cross from toothless to only just right sufficient
The Sharks have have shyed away from dropping 3 instantly however they may be able to’t disguise from the truth that this used to be a lovely mediocre efficiency.
A loss would have put them in peril of falling by the wayside of the highest 8 however they’re nonetheless inside of placing distance of the highest 4 if they may be able to hit their straps in the second one half of of the season.
Losing to a depleted Roosters aspect used to be a priority and getting crushed through the Warriors doubled the difficulty and alarm bells have been ringing after their limp first-half show towards the Dragons.
Their sport plan apparently amounted to a plan of bombing the bejeezus out of St George Illawarra’s again 3, in particular focused on winger Tyrell Sloan.
Nicho Hynes is tackled through Damien Cook and Luciano Leilua. (Photo through Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
And when that didn’t repay, there looked to be no choice choice.
When Craig Fitzgibbon first got here to Cronulla in 2022, he became them into an attacking drive with sweeping performs from sideline to sideline characterized through black, white and blue our bodies in movement.
Lately it’s been a heavy dose of one-out operating or Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall crabbing sideways ahead of dumping the ball off to a beef up participant.
The bombing raid in the end paid off as they powered previous their derby competitors in the second one half of however you would need to be simply inspired to suppose Cronulla are again to any place close to their best possible.
2. Dragons’ self-discipline allows them to down
After copping a 50-point flogging closing week from the Dolphins, most effective essentially the most one-eyed Dragons supporter gave them any hope towards the Sharks.
St George Illawarra trainer Shane Flanagan boldly assured the 56-6 consequence used to be only a blip at the radar and he would be sure that any such diabolical efficiency would no longer occur once more.
Whatever he stated to rev them up ahead of this sport did the trick as a result of his gamers weathered an early hurricane ahead of appearing the get to the bottom of that used to be particularly absent six days previous towards the Dolphins to steer through 12 on the ruin.
But the Mr Hyde aspect got here out of the Dr Jekyll Dragons in the second one time period with a succession of useless consequences and deficient selections in assault and defence including as much as them surrendering two precious festival issues.
They have now gained simply 5 of 13 outings and are temporarily falling to the again of the chasing pack within the logjam of hot-and-cold groups occupying the ground 12 rungs of the NRL ladder.
3. Switch on, transfer off for all sides
The Sharks ruled the hole 20 mins with the Dragons slightly sighting the northern finish of the sector.
But after Blayke Brailey arrange the hole issues for Brandon Trindall, the ratings have been degree when Dragons veteran Damien Cook jinked previous 3 defenders within the visiting staff’s first foray into the purple zone.
Again, apparently out of not anything, the Drains hit the entrance within the 27th minute when rookie pivot Lykhan King-Tongia escaped the clutches of 3 defenders to present his staff a wonder 12-6 lead.
When centre Jesse Ramien used to be sin-binned for a certified foul past due within the first half of, the Dragons made it 3 tries at the trot to take a 12-point buffer into half-time.
King-Tongia made a an important try-saving take on early in the second one half of to disclaim Sione Katoa and stay the hosts at arm’s duration.
But the tide became when Kiwi ahead Briton Nikora crashed over from a in most cases difficult price at the left edge and when Trindall pounced after a Dragons fumble from a bomb, the ledger used to be all sq..
Cronulla finished a three-try 10-minute blitz when Katoa mesmerised the defence to slip over for a 22-18 benefit.
They went six issues forward with a penalty purpose and the Dragons have been dudded at the brief restart when referee Grant Atkins stated their kick didn’t “break the plane” of 10 metres when it used to be simple that it did.
Katoa clinched the outcome a couple of mins later when he produced a very good slips catch to scoop up a King-Togia kick ricochet.
4. LKT one to look at
Shane Flanagan bit the bullet closing month through dumping under-performing half of Lachlan Ilias to appear to the long run.
King-Togia is the younger prospect he entrusted with the playmaking tasks along side his son Kyle.
Thursday night time’s Shark Park jaunt used to be his 6th instantly get started within the halves and after being switched to five-eighth from halfback, he’s discovering his toes as a hollow runner, leaving the sport managing tasks to Flanagan.
He has most effective not too long ago became 20 so he’s nonetheless a couple of years clear of being any place close to the completed product however Flanagan might as smartly keep on with the Toowoomba product for the remainder of the season.
5. Time operating out for this squad
The Sharks wish to make some difficult selections quickly about their roster.
They have had arguably essentially the most settled squad within the NRL over the last few years however that steadiness is in peril of changing into stale.
After signing Addin Fonua-Blake on a four-year deal this season from the Warriors, they don’t have the wage cap house as but to re-sign fullback Will Kennedy, let by myself upload any further high-profile recruits.
Young software Dan Atkinson, who has spent extra time at the bench this season and used to be an unused reserve on this fit, is off to St George Illawarra however his go out is not going to unlock too many greenbacks as he’s on a modest deal that he inked ahead of his breakout 2024 season.
The major participants in their staff are on no account lengthy within the teeth but when they retain bobbing up brief within the finals, or no longer even qualifying, severe questions wish to be requested within the Sutherland Shire.
This win lifted them to an 8-6 document and saved them in 5th spot however they’re some distance at the back of the highest 4 groups even supposing they have got been unaffected through Origin choices and are with regards to complete energy.
The Kick: No hearth in native derby
The days of the mandatory punch-up are lengthy long past however those derby fits within the no longer so far-off previous used to characteristic additional depth.
The Sharks have at all times hated their Red V giant brothers and in particular in recent years when St George Illawarra has been some distance much less a hit than their neighbours, the competition has been fierce.
But this felt like simply any other common season fit.
Perhaps it’s a results of the gamers from maximum NRL golf equipment being matey matey ahead of, all through and after fits nowadays however there used to be little chunk and no spite on Thursday night time.
Perhaps a membership respectable must parade during the leagues membership’s Chinese eating place chopping up the opposition staff’s jersey with a couple of scissors to reignite the hatred between the 2 groups.
Naaah, no person could be loopy sufficient to try this.
