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The Cronulla Sharks have re-affirmed their position as premiership favourites, recording a come-from-behind and hard-fought two-point victory over the Canberra Raiders away from home.
The Sharks will now have a week off, while the Raiders will have to front up for work next weekend against the winner of the second elimination final, played on Sunday between the Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs.
Re-live The Roar’s live coverage of the Sharks’ win here.
These are The Roar‘s talking points from what was a brilliant game of football.
The Sharks are back and biting again
This victory was almost typical of a Sharks side, who are happy to get into the grind and tough out a win from almost any position they find themselves in – and that is exactly what happened here.
They were down 12-0 at one point but launched a comeback that was full of determination and grit, their forwards doing plenty of damage up the middle and James Maloney leading a kicking game that, for the most part was pin-point accurate.
With the injury to Josh Hodgson (and more on this shortly), the Raiders attack floundered and their defence, while strong was nowhere up to scratch to compete with the Sharks.
The bottom line for Cronulla though, is that they are still yet to build consistent form given the way they finished the NRL season, and the competition is only going to get tougher from here.
If they can string two of their better games together though, and they have proven they can do that more than just a few times this year then there is no reason they won’t win the comp, or shouldn’t be in the conversation to do so.
Until they run into the Storm, it’s hard to see teams matching them up the middle of the park so as long as their attack stays solid, they could be in for a trip to the penultimate Sunday in October, which really is something that should have been destined for the club since the middle of the season and that massive winning streak.
At the end of the day, there was no Gallen and virtually no Graham so a very courageous effort from Cronulla.
The Raiders will be out in straight sets if Josh Hodgson is injured
Hodgson is the Raiders biggest attacking weapon.
There is no way around that simple statement, and they look like a completely different team (not positively either) when Hodgson is not on the park.
The hookers are a common theme and Michael Ennis is still the key for Cronulla
If Hodgson is the key to the Raiders attack then it has been proven time and time again for the Sharks that Ennis is their key.
While the Sharks have attacking weapons all over the park – James Maloney, Chad Townsend, Ben Barba, Andrew Fiffita, Wade Graham and Valentine Holmes just to name a few. But what Ennis provides is excellent service out of dummy half, a cool head and smart decision making process and furthermore he leads the Sharks wrestle and grapple through the middle.
The way the Sharks play the game, they have to defend well more often than not and Ennis leads that in every facet imaginable.
But besides defence, his attacking know how as a hooker is up there among the best in the game and it would be scary to think where the Sharks would be without him.
We have had glimpses of exactly what the Cronulla attack would be like without Ennis at different points during the season, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.
If he stays in form and firing through the finals, then the Sharks will go a long way to winning. If he was to get injured, or suspended or anything else was to happen then you could just about draw the curtain on their season.
Even more importantly for the Sharks, the hooker is retiring at the end of the year and you just get a feeling that 2016 is their one and only window of opportunity for a maiden premiership with the current squad.
The Raiders right side attack must fire
The Raiders have one of the most dangerous right edges in the competition, and there is simply no questioning that – you can’t beat Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana out there.
They have been dangerous all season long and given opposition defences nightmares.
Now this point isn’t really saying they had a bad game against the Sharks, but they absolutely must be better if the Raiders want to go far in this finals series.
The pair have so much talent between them and the bottom line is that they are scoring weapons.
Matt Prior is one of the most underrated props in the game
Prior probably had one of the best games of his career on yesterday, leading the Cronulla pack with some huge runs that totalled for 233 metres at over 10 metres per carry, which included a line break and he didn’t shirk his work on the defensive end racking up 37 tackles.
It was a superb game from Prior, and while this one stood out he has been one of the most consistent performers for the Sharks this season.
Being a Dragons supporter, which of course if Prior’s old club I’ll be the first to admit he had, and at times still does have issues with his game – ball handling at the top of the list.
But this has been a very strong, consistent season for Prior who has been one of the Sharks unsung heroes week in and week out. You always seem to know when Prior is out there, because he gets involved in the play, looks to run the ball at every opportunity and when he does there is always some purpose behind it.
He is far from the best forward in the Cronulla team or the upper echelon of forwards in the NRL, however every team needs players like Prior – without them you can’t mount a charge at the finals or any success.
Simply put, he is a fantastic player and from all reports an even better bloke. It’s a real shame he doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Well Roarers, that’s our talking points from the second NRL qualifying final. What did I miss? What did you think of the game? Let us know below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde