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Cronulla have moved into the top 4 with a 35-28 win over the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium.
In a quality match between the two teams, with scores leveled late in the match, Cronulla were able to score a late try to Michael Ennis to move a game clear of South Sydney in fourth place.
14 minutes earlier, this looked unlikely, as Parramatta had the lead 28-22 and all the momentum.
>>MATCH REPORT: Cronulla into top four with win over Eels
They gave back the momentum though with a kick that went dead right after taking the lead through Isaac De Gois.
Cronulla, with an extra tackle, would take advantage as Sosaia Feki scored to make it level at 28-28.
Valentine Holmes then kicked a field goal, with four minutes to go, to seal the lead before Ennis won the Sharks the match.
Early on it was all Cronulla as they raced to a 12-0 lead through tries to Feki and Leutele.
Parramatta would respond, using the sun in the Sharks eyes during the first half, to score two tries with high kicks.
This put the score at 16-10 to the Sharks, with Semi Radradra and Ryan Morgan going over.
One late try to Jayson Bukuya made the score 20-10 to the Sharks at half time.
Parramatta then responded in the second half, and came back, with strong support from the home crowd.
Three tries in the space of 20 minutes, including a brilliant run by forward Daniel Alvaro, gave the Eels a 6 point lead.
Cronulla though responded, with their season on the line, to seal a big win in their quest for a top four spot.
They now need to defeat the Sea Eagles next week to win the double chance.
The loss for Parramatta ended their finals campaign, even though it was slim to start off with.
The finals series is almost locked in as well.
A win by the Dragons tomorrow will make them the 8th team to qualify for the finals.
The Eels will finish their season next week against the Raiders.
The Cronulla Sharks have a chance to move into the top four with a win over the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium. Join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 3pm (AEST).
After the Broncos smashed the Rabbitohs on Thursday night, the Sharks could move a game clear of South Sydney with a win today.
Cronulla have been one of the form teams of the competition over the last few rounds, with six wins out of their last seven matches, and last week they recorded their highest score of the season with a 40-18 win over the Tigers.
Parramatta’s season could be best described as a rollercoaster ride. After the disappointment of losing to the Roosters in Round 23 from a halftime lead, they made up for it against Manly at Brookvale Oval last week, defeating the Sea Eagles 20-16.
They virtually ended the Sea Eagles’ chances of making the eight, and won’t be afraid of ruining Cronulla’s top-four quest.
The Eels mathematically still have a chance to make the finals.
Following Manly’s loss to the Roosters, if the Sea Eagles lose next week, and St George Illawarra lose their last two, then Parramatta just need to win both games and beat the Dragons’ for and against.
While there are better odds of me visiting the moon than the Eels making the finals, the yellow and blue still have a chance.
Parramatta are boosted by the return of Tim Mannah from a knee injury, which sees Darcy Lussick replacing Joseph Paulo.
Cronulla, after their impressive win last week, remain unchanged.
The last time these two teams met was Round 21 last year, and Jarryd Hayne scored two tries in the Eels’ 32-12 win.
The Eels have a fantastic record against the Sharks, winning four of their last five matches. They have also won their last four matches at Parramatta against Cronulla.
Prediction
I’m leaning towards the home team causing an upset, with a good start getting the Eels the two points.
Parramatta by 4.
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