[VIDEO] Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons highlights: NRL scores, blog

I agree with a lot of what you're saying especially about their ability to force a grind and win through that way, it's hard for teams to embrace the grind in regular season games a lot of the time and Cronulla can maintain it better than many. The problems seem to come when other teams do embrace that grinding contest enough to make it about how well both teams finish their sets and convert position into points, which incidentally is why I mentioned the Penrith game -- Penrith were down on troops and not playing that well, but they definitely didn't shirk the grind. The inconsistency seems more of a mental thing, Fifita being the worst offender (followed by Graham and Bukuya), and discipline is a big part of that, can't win hard fought games giving away piggyback penalties. As for the Bulldogs last year, I'm trying to forget about that and not think about the "what if", but I think losing Ennis in the semi final was the difference between being able to win or not -- by no means saying they would've won with Ennis there, but losing the captain and hooker without a worthy replacement was crippling.

Remind me to never put my powerplay on the Dragons again. >:(

Yeah but that's part of their strength - they force the better teams into a grind. No, their capacity to make the finals is based on how they finish the year.... they can beat all the sides that are hanging between 4th and 12th on the ladder. Well I disagree - this forward pack motors down the field like no other - sure they need some consistency but apart from the first game against the dragons which was their worst performance of the year... they've generally won the battle in the middle. Discipline is an area they need to improve on and agree they need some consistency but they've won 5 of their last 7 games and have had to catch up after losing their first four. To me they are a lot like the bulldogs last year - they can't win the comp but they can cause plenty of headaches if they produce their best.

My point is that while they can be difficult to beat, they don't really offer much to worry the top sides if they play well, it's pretty hard to envisage a game in which a good team plays well and loses to the Sharks. They've improved since their earlier meeting with the Dragons but it's honestly hard to see how any side couldn't improve on that abysmal performance. Their capacity to make the finals at this point is tied heavily to how some of the nearby sides finish the year, and if they do make it I don't see them as any more than a banana skin for other sides that will. Also to say they have the best pack in the comp is pretty debatable, maybe when the planets align and they all play to their potential at once, but their worst and best are a long way apart.

Easy for a Broncos supporter to say - from a one team town with a population of 2.1 million.

Should be called a Ramsay.

That's the name of the Orara team up here in Coffs Harbour as well. They were great a few years back when Russel Crowe funded a few ring-ins. Big Mark Carroll was one of them.

Yeah it was pretty cold but that's a pretty disappointing crowd for the local derby. The Sharks had bigger attendances against the Roosters and Warriors....mind you it was warmer on both of those days.

Timing of this fixture is poor. The same week when the origin decider was on. No build up or promotion to this game.

They should have a rule where if you can't get more than 15,000 to show up regularly, you forfeit local games. It could be like 1 per year for each 1000 below 15 you average. Would encourage the home side to do more. Promotion and marketing seems to be the main drivers of getting people to games. Whenever there is a major campaign, they get 18+. I think Clubs just get lazy.

The cowboys and roosters games were more recent but even the games you mentioned against teams earlier in the year - they could have easily won, they competed in every one of those.... they've gotten better as the year has gone. I still don't understand your point... they've beaten the top sides. I don't think anyone is saying they are going to win the competition but they certainly are a finals team.... At full strength they are capable of beating anyone simply on the back of having the best forward pack in the comp but they struggle with the lack of creativity in the halves - everyone knows that. Today's game was different though... since their performance against Newcastle a couple weeks ago - they've started to play a more open brand of footy and have a free flowing attacking game... not sure if that was through complacency but it looked like they were trying to score off every set today. Earlier in the year, they just tried to grind teams... I personally prefer the way they've been playing recently as its more entertaining but when they play the likes of the roosters, broncos, etc... they'll want to try and grind their way to victory as if they aren't clinical and throwing the ball around doesn't pay off - those sides will make you pay.

The Dragons will be back. They haven't been backed all year and they will continued to be ridiculed by everyone. It's a bit rich to say they will be back after today but let me tell you right now it is not exactly easy to win when you have the likes of Dugan, Marshall, Merrin, Frizell, Thompson, Jack De Belin, Nabuli, Farrell and Kiti Glymin out. Origin and Injuries have de railed the Dragons but with most of those players due back in the next couple of weeks they should start to mount their run to the finals fairly well. Souths next week is looking close to unwinnable at the moment but let's see what happens after that. Anyway, the Sharks were pretty good today. Should make the 8.

It was 18,000 when the Dragons hosted it 5 weeks ago :P

What a crowd. Why aren't there more games scheduled in Sydney in winter.

The axeman... Now that's a top side

As opposed to the Broncos, Warriors, and Panthers? You can pick and choose results to argue anything about the Sharks, but they way they're playing isn't especially promising for the business end of the season.

Top sides as in the mighty Jacksonville Axemen.