The Sharks have damaged their playoff drought with Braydon Trindall stepping up for a nonetheless struggling Nicho Hynes to propel them right into a preliminary last showdown with Penrith.
Hynes took a again seat as Trindall turned in essentially the most potent efficiency of his profession to finish Cronulla’s seven-match playoff dropping streak stretching again to 2018 on the again of a four-try first-half blitz.
They survived just a few anxious moments within the second half as North Queensland staged a frenetic fightback however the Sharks held on for a 26-18 triumph to maintain their unlikely title hopes alive.
In the event that they change off like they did towards the Cowboys, they are going to be simple meat subsequent Saturday at Accor Stadium for the Panthers, who’re placing their toes up this weekend and resting Nathan Cleary’s tender shoulder after disposing of the Roosters to advance on to week three of the playoffs.
1. Residence candy adopted house for Sharks
The pre-game drama centred round Cronulla desirous to play their semi-final at Shark Park however they seemed proper at house at Allianz Stadium with the modest crowd of 19,124 nonetheless outstripping something they might muster at their common base.
After surging to a 24-0 lead by half-time, there was solely ever going to be one winner as Craig Fitzgibbon’s aspect buried their playoff hoodoo in the absolute best approach.
Trindall was lucky to be awarded an early penalty attempt however he confirmed nice fingers to arrange their second for Cameron McInnes and backed up one other failed Cowboys bomb defusal to notch their third for an 18-0 lead.
He initiated the break for Ronaldo Mulitalo to the touch down simply earlier than the break to all however finish the competition by the midway level.
Valentine Holmes revived faint hope of a Cowboys comeback with a attempt early within the second half earlier than Cronulla have been twice denied by the Bunker after Sione Katoa and Royce Hunt touched down.
Katoa’s fingers let him down once more when he botched a excessive ball for Reuben Cotter to chop the hole to 12.
A penalty objective gave the Sharks respiration house with quarter-hour left however a Cotter steal was the catalyst for Holmes to cut back the hole to eight heading into the ultimate 10 minutes.
He limped off within the last levels because the Cowboys’ valiant late cost proved too little, too late.
2. Cowboys hearth blanks earlier than late rally
North Queensland entered the finals on a sizzling streak and made a promising begin by overcoming the Knights.
However they went lacking when it counted. Their forwards have been outmuscled by Cronulla, their halves had no room to maneuver and the surface backs have been little greater than one-out runners attempting to get the staff out of their hazard zone.
Ending fifth and a second-round finals exit is just not the worst outcome for the Cowboys but it surely’s not a lot better than a cross mark for his or her season.
This is likely one of the most gifted rosters within the NRL with six present Origin representatives however they by no means fairly clicked in 2024.
Altering halfbacks late within the season is never a recipe for finals success and Jake Clifford had extra impression than Chad Townsend but when Todd Payten had his time once more, he would have made the decision earlier.
They’ll head into subsequent season with largely the identical squad aside from Townsend heading to the Roosters, Holmes’ change to St George Illawarra and veteran winger Kyle Feldt, whose final match on the membership ended early as a consequence of a calf pressure, heading to the Tremendous League.
Payten stated they have been “not calm sufficient” in key moments, particularly the second attempt they conceded from a kick-off set and the one simply earlier than the interval.
“We’ve acquired to evolve,” he stated. “In any other case we’re a center of the highway staff that exhibits some flashiness. We’ve acquired some skill however you may’t decide and select while you do the onerous stuff within the recreation.
“The primary half put us beneath an excessive amount of stress.”
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3. Nicho higher however not again to finest
Hynes didn’t silence the critics who declare he’s not a big-game performer with Greg Alexander even suggesting he needs to be dropped for rookie half Dan Atkinson.
However he managed to press pause on the refrain of doubters who query his mettle.
Hynes was attempting his darnedest to rediscover his outdated magic after a sub-par efficiency within the Qualifying Ultimate loss to Melbourne.
Fortunately for him, Trindall took on the mantle of being the Sharks’ chief playmaker and put in a five-star show.
Nonetheless if the Sharks have any hope of bringing down the Panthers subsequent weekend they want Hynes again within the form of contact which propelled him to the 2022 Dally M Medal and even that might not be sufficient towards the three-time premiers.
Fitzgibbon stated Trindall had the spotlight performs however he was proud of Hynes’ contributions.
Aside from Hynes’ hiccups, the Sharks even have a slight concern over Briton Nikora, who was placed on report for a late hit on Tom Dearden early within the second half though the Kiwi ahead is prone to solely cop a fantastic.
4. Cowboys fullback goes to water
Drinkwater is a rocks and diamonds participant. There was nothing shiny about the best way he performed towards Cronulla.
He made a expensive dealing with error which stalled their momentum halfway by way of the primary half which led to Trindall’s second attempt.
After which he let a bomb bounce which offered Cronulla with a repeat set which led to Mulitalo touching down.
He tried an extended cross within the second half as properly which went a good distance ahead to merciless the Cowboys’ probabilities of clawing again the deficit and one other low-percentage play got here unstuck when a line drop-out went out on the complete.
Drinkwater is an elite attacking risk however he is usually a defensive legal responsibility.
The Cowboys will stick with him as their fullback in 2025 however they may solely go up to now with him as a key member of their backbone until he can shake off his wild fluctuations.
Blayke Brailey is tackled. (Photograph by Jason McCawley/Getty Pictures)
5. Brailey hooks in
The Sharks know his true worth however Blayke Brailey is just not a reputation that almost all opposition followers give an excessive amount of consideration.
He’s 25 with the youthful seems to be that may nonetheless result in him getting ID checks at nightclubs however he’s a tricky competitor.
He saved the Sharks’ pores and skin numerous instances along with his clean-up work across the ruck, making determined luges to snuff out potential half breaks.
Brailey ended up with 46 tackles and together with McInnes bringing down 37 Cowboys, the guests discovered it troublesome to get their often silking attacking recreation firing on all cylinders.
He has 136 NRL appearances beneath his belt and after going shut to creating the NSW aspect this 12 months, he wouldn’t look misplaced at consultant degree within the close to future.
The Kick: Bunker blunders with penalty attempt name
It was that you simply needed to be 110% positive {that a} four-pointer would have occurred earlier than the refs would even take into account awarding a penalty attempt.
These days 50-50 calls are getting the inexperienced gentle.
The penalty attempt pendulum has swung too far the opposite approach and if historical past is any information, there’ll now be a large over-correction the opposite approach.
Trindall’s 14th-minute attempt was that doubtful that even the black, white and blue-eyed Paul Gallen was astounded the choice went in Cronulla’s favour.
The five-eighth was clearly fouled by Reuben Cotter when he was introduced down after kicking the ball into the in-goal space however Dearden was on the very least within the neighborhood and it’s a stretch for the Bunker to assert definitively that Trindall would have scored.
“I feel they’d have gotten there at the same time,” Gallen admitted. “I’m stunned it’s a penalty attempt.
“It was a harsh name on the Cowboys.”
Cronulla deserved to win however the penalty attempt was essential in that they scored off the subsequent set to shoot out to a 12-0 lead which proved vitally essential because the Cowboys surged again into the competition within the second half.
Payten stated he didn’t like the decision however really most well-liked to concede the six factors quite than having Cotter sin-binned.
