Sharks shock reigning premiers to prove they have title credentials
Cronulla claim they can see the path to mounting a serious challenge in the finals after taking it to Penrith early in their 20-10 loss to the defending premiers.
The Sharks let an early 10-0 lead slip in the defeat, as the Panthers came from behind at halftime on Saturday to win for the first time this year,
But there was still plenty to like for a Cronulla side who finish the round in third spot.
The Panthers scored only three tries despite having the bulk of the ball, as the Sharks repelled their attacks for the majority of the final 60 minutes of the match.
Ultimately, Cronulla proved their own worst enemy with poor errors regularly made out of their own end, as coach Craig Fitzgibbon conceded fatigue became an issue.
But after beating understrength Melbourne and North Queensland sides in recent weeks, there is now clear proof they can take it to the competition’s elite.
“We trained with intent this week, our attitude has been spot on, we have been building with performance and were ready to test ourselves,” Fitzgibbon said.
“They’re all things that you have to get out of a footy team to be good at the end of the year. We will take a lot out of that.
“But there are things we know we have to work on with execution.
“We just want to catch earlier, pass better, be a little deeper in attack. Get our timing right.
“They’re small adjustments to make sure we mount pressure, then I will be confident.”
Meanwhile, the Sharks were adamant that Dale Finucane would have nothing to worry about, after his sickening head clash with Stephen Crichton.
Crichton required an appointment with a plastic surgeon with his ear torn apart, after Finucane rushed out of the line and made head-first contact with the centre.
Penrith have since questioned why, at the very least, a penalty was not blown, particularly given the NRL’s crackdown on head contact in recent years.
But Cronulla were confident the right call was made not to penalise Finucane, and he would not be charged by the match review committee.
“It was a big head clash,” Fitzgibbon said.
“His arms did come up pretty spectacularly after it, but I thought it was a pretty flush head-on tackle for me.”
Meanwhile, the Sharks were also unhappy that Viliame Kikau was not penalised for what they claimed was a shoulder charge on Connor Tracey in the final six minutes.
With the match in the balance at 14-10 to the Panthers, a penalty would have put the Sharks on the attack but they were instead forced to battle out of their own end.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
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