Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Sharks shock reigning premiers to prove they have title credentials

(Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

“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.

Related

“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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

E
Easy_Duzz-it 29 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

14 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING ‘It’s about his career’: Why NRL star Payne Haas could jump codes ‘It’s about his career’: Why NRL star Payne Haas could jump codes
Search