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The Cronulla Sharks have recorded a dominating 24 point win over the Canberra Raiders away from home on Sunday afternoon, confirming their position in the top four on the NRL ladder.
After a positive start to the season, this continues a dismal few weeks for the Raiders who were coming into this game on the back of a 30-point drubbing at the hands of the Parramatta Eels last week.
The Sharks were fantastic right throughout the course of the game today, led by creative weapons Ben Barba and Michael Ennis. Canberra were blown off the park during the first half hour, and while they only conceded two tries in that time frame didn’t even look like they were close to being in the contest.
James Maloney, Chad Townsend and Jack Bird were all fantastic, while the Cronulla forwards all stepped up their game and outplayed the Canberra pack for the majority of the game.
Ennis in particular with his short range kicking game was fantastic, and Barba looked dangerous every time he got the ball in hand.
For the Raiders, the only spark came from their side combination of Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana. The pair were busy with the ball all afternoon, and while at times could have been guilty of trying to do too much overall had a fantastic afternoon.
Aiden Sezer was terrible for the Raiders though, and with their pack unable to win the battle in the middle, added with no Blake Ausin on the park it was always going to be an uphill battle. Josh Hodgson didn’t have his normal production either, and the Raiders looked like a different side when Kurt Baptiste hit the field.
The scoring opened in the 10th minute through Barba who was able to pounce on a grubber kick from Ennis out of dummy half at the Canberra line.
Ths Sharks then had a try disallowed through Jack Bird who knocked it on in a challenge off a high kick, before he scored in the 20th minute on the right-hand side with a simple burst through the line.
When the second half got underway, it was clear the Raiders had to score first, but Cronulla ended that idea in just two minutes. Jason Bukuya scored the first try of the second half barging over the line with some very soft defence presented.
Ben Barba would be next to score just five minutes later after a strong set play went to the right hand side and Barba straightened to score.
The Raiders then found some momentum with Baptiste on the field, joined by the hard running Luke Bateman. It opened the way for Rapana and Leilua to make plenty of metres, and bring the Raiders onto the attack a few times.
Baptiste scored out of dummy half in the 54th minute, before Rapana scored off a long range effort just five minutes later.
The Sharks quickly answered back with a long range effort from James Maloney translating into points for Valentine Holmes on the other side of the field.
Aiden Sezer scored one for the Titans, trying to give them some sort of chance at the end of the match but the Sharks were able to hang on with the Raiders continuing to come up with errors.
Some tries to put the icing on the cake for the Sharks came in the last few minutes, with Matt Prior scoring three minutes from time through some soft defence, and then James Maloney making an intercept and running the length of the field.
A fantastic effort from the Sharks today, and the Raiders need to find a way to turn things around.
Score:
Canberra Raiders 16
Cronulla Sharks 40
The Cronulla Sharks look to continue their strong start to the season when they go on the road to play a Canberra Raiders outfit who need to bounce back from a mauling last week. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2pm (AEST).
Canberra absolutely must bounce back from the absolute hammering they copped last week at the hands of the Parramatta Eels. Pirtek Stadium is never an easy place to play, but with Kieran Foran and Corey Norman firing on all cylinders the Raiders had no hope.
Their defence was shot to bits more than once, and they conceded 36 points without really looking threatening in attack themselves.
The question has to be though, exactly how much can you read into that performance? Not a hell of a lot really, considering they still have a record of three wins, two losses and one draw. It leaves them in seventh on the NRL ladder.
It should also be remembered that the week before they have the Canterbury Bulldogs a touch up at Belmore, winning by 14 points and were coming off an eight-day turnaround.
The Sharks, on the other hand haven’t lost a game since Round 3, and have been strong in each of their performances. The best of those was a visit to Melbourne where they beat the Storm by eight points, but wins against the Gold Coast Titans and Wests Tigers have left them sitting very comfortably in fourth position on the table.
Questions though must be asked of Cronulla, who suffered two tough away losses in the first three rounds against the North Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles – games they really must be winning to be considered premiership front runners.
This, a trip to Caberra where Blake Austin and Aiden Sezer could fire, is going to be a real test of the Sharks’ mettle.
Between the sides, only one team chance has been made with Jason Bukuya coming into replace Luke Lewis in the second row for Cronulla.
Austin and Sezer are just about undoubtedly the key for the hosts. If they click, then the Canberra attack clicks. With a strong forward pack doing the damage it all comes down to the creativity of the halves.
The Sharks pack though is similarly strong, and may well outclass that of the Raiders, meaning even more pressure is placed on Sezer and Austin.
Prediction
The Sharks have looked strong, but the Raiders don’t look like a side who are going to stay down two weeks in a row. Expect them to bounce back strongly.
Raiders by 10.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of this important Round 7 match from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as the match unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde