The Cronulla Sharks have picked up their fourth win on the trot with a shut out of the Penrith Panthers, who slumped to a 26-point defeat and a record of five wins and two losses.
The Panthers had the first shots to score in the game after an indifferent start by both sides, but their attack looked a rabble early on and didn’t improve throughout the game.
Anthony Griffin’s men never really looked like scoring and after blowing a few early opportunities, they opened the scoring through a penalty goal.
It would be the last time they bothered the scoreboard attendant though as the Sharks began to dominate the game and never looked back. They built on the back of their defence and ran all the way to the finish line.
James Maloney was the man to get his name on the scoresheet first after Chad Townsend put an excellent kick in, splitting four defenders to pick out his halves partner.
The Panthers managed to defend the Sharks out for about 20 minutes, but they broke right on the stroke of halftime with a spread to the left that ended in the hands of Siosaia Feki who crashed over to score.
With both of the Sharks tries converted, they went to the break with a ten-point advantage and all the running in the contest, but it would only get worse for the Chocolate Soldiers on the other side of the break.
Errors from both sides marred the start of the second half, but it would be the visitors to settle back into the contest first and the Panthers barely touched the ball for the next 20 minutes.
With James Maloney and in particular Chad Townsend dominating with the kicking game on the back of a rolling forward pack, they forced four repeat sets in a matter of minutes after a Jack Bird try to get the scoreboard rolling again.
The try to Bird came in the 46th minute after a simple play to the right side of the park. Maloney handed off for Luke Lewis who had a fantastic game with Bird then crashing over in the corner.
Lewis, alongside second-row partner Wade Graham were among the Sharks best, running off their halves. Graham also made his impact felt on the defensive end, coming up with a number of big tackles which clearly rattled Nathan Cleary and Te Maire Martin.
Paul Gallen was the next man over the try line with a strong effort after Cronulla went the length of the field in a set.
The final try of the contest came to Andrew Fifita, but by that point the game was winding down with very little action left on the field or the scoreboard.
The Sharks now get ready for a Saturday contest against the Gold Coast Titans, while the Panthers face the Parramatta Eels in an important western Sydney derby.
In Penrith though, the Sharks pick up the victory by 26.
Tries: Panthers (0), Sharks (5)
Conversions: Panthers (0), Sharks (4/5)
Penalty goals: Panthers (1/1), Sharks (0)
Possession: Panthers (47%), Sharks (53%)
Completions: Panthers (30/40), Sharks (30/41)
All runs: Panthers (174), Sharks (174)
All runs metres: Panthers (1397), Sharks (1607)
Line breaks: Panthers (2), Sharks (7)
Offloads: Panthers (9), Sharks (15)
Tackles: Panthers (340), Sharks (305)
Missed tackles: Panthers (40), Sharks (40)
Penalties: Panthers (9), Sharks (8)
Errors: Panthers (11), Sharks (15)
Penrith Panthers 2
Cronulla Sharks 28
Sava
Guest
I turned off the TV game Penrith V the Sharks , could not watch the flop in every Sharks tackle ,mainly by Fifita, They mauled the Panthers and Graham played offside for most of the game,and his tackles were brutal, if thats how to win games Tat Tah for me.PS I am not a Penrith supporter .. Sava
Albo
Guest
Can't agree with you about Martin. He is a must to further develop in that team. He has lots of heavy traffic targeting him and he handles it OK. He threw a couple of dodgy passes yesterday under defensive pressure, but he is generally good in that department. Last year's 6 was Cartwright who was targeted and defensively hopeless all season. The problem I see is that their attack is playing too flat, too unstructured, too impatient, and lacks an attacking kicking game. Wade Graham completely shut down their right side attack all day but they kept running the same flat line at him ? They seem to have a no kick policy in attack inside the opposition's quarter, so they never score off grubber kicks, nor get a repeat set to raise pressure on the opposition. They have scored one try from a kick all season and rarely generated a line drop out ? So flat is their attack, that intercepts are always on the cards or coughing up the ball due to the defence being on top of them, has led to a number of runaway tries against them already. Surely their is a coaching issue here ? Seems they have been given a licence to try to score of every play ? Just not a realistic option for ongoing success. Defensively too they are not consistent, particularly in the ruck area where Wallace is working overtime to cover up deficiencies. The Sharks pack steamrolled them all that second half and the Panthers are in need of a hard hitting defensive forward in the mould of a Josh Jackson, a Wade Graham or such. I think James Fisher-Harris might be the one, but they lost him before halftime yesterday. So in being pretty critical of the Panthers, I also believe that they are not far away from being a very good side. Just need some sensible structure provided and the right combinations settled on for them to get on track. My concern is that it hasn't happened already.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I agree EJ. As you say, when their ad-lib doesn't work they have no plan B. It's the opposite of my Rabbitohs - we are far too structured and when that doesn't work we also have no plan B.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I've said it many times ...Tamou is a big over rated slug , Moylan is above average but isn't worth the carry on that he attracts and Penrith have a dud coach and will be lucky to make the eight .
rupert
Guest
Some Thoughts The half/ five eight combination are showing their youth and inexperience. T Maire Martin has to go. Talented but lacks commitment and may have fitness issues. Wallace, so committed but doesn't have the mental agility for the dummy half position. Against impregnable Melbourne, didn't try to turn their defence around with even one short grubber kick. Against Cronulla, wasted opportunities close to the line when a deft grubber or a dive for the line would have given a result. As for the intercepts: One intercept is unfortunate, two is careless, three is unforgivable. Unless Cartwright can right the ship, it's going to be a long year for the Panthers.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Fifita is the best forward in NSW at the moment, should be first picked. His salary would be justified if Tamou played with as much energy as Heighington and Bukuya. Just not rep standard and turning out to be the dud buy of the season. Vaugn, Shannon Boyd, even Ryan James should all be considered ahead of 'kiwi' Jimmy Tamou for Blues.
kk
Roar Pro
Spare a thought for Peter Wallace. 80' and 46/50 tackles. Consider the triple piggy-back of perceived contractual injustice. (per game) Merrin. $800K $33,333 Tamou $600K $25,000 Wallace $400K $16,666 Bernie Gurr has a point. Players salaries should be published. I would love to see a return to payments on the W/L/ D basis.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I'd argue that they have no structure. It's almost ad-lib from tackle 2. And when the side-to-side movement doesn't work they have no plan B. They want to score off every play. Zero patience or desire to build pressure.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
To me it looks like Moylan is the chief playmaker. He touches the ball way too often for a fullback. And wants to create something with every touch. There is no patience with this Panthers side. No structure. And no game plan. That rests on the shoulders of the coach.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Cleary is the only playmaker. Opposition teams know everything goes through him, so its easier to shut him down. He needs Cartwright back
jamesb
Guest
Does Cleary offer anything else other than the high bomb, or is he restricted by the coaches instructions? With Cronulla, Bird, Maloney and Graham should be in the NSW side.
Succhi
Guest
Panthers looked too structured and predictable - 5th tackle pass to Clearly to put up a high kick and hope they drop it. Wallace looks too slow from dummy half as well - gutsy and tough - but no spark.
Agent11
Guest
Yikes, Griffin may not see out the year the way Panthers are going. An awful lot of hype for this team and they have already been embarrassed more that once this year.
Alex
Roar Rookie
Always said need to fill the team with more Sharks, those 4 should be a lock in and not so crazy i think to have the Maloney/Townsend combo
The Barry
Roar Guru
Panthers are battling. The framework is there for a solid side but everyone gitca bit excited preseason based on a good run of half a dozen games or so at the end of last season.
souvalis
Guest
The market is all mixed up..whatever Bird and Val are on Maloney should be on..plus 20%.. If Laurie was watching today Bird,Wade,Maloney locked in..Fifita foot in the door..Brailey training with the side prepping for next year..and couldn't the Blues use the kicking game Townsend brought along today.... Could do a lot worse filling the team with Sharkies,running hard and hitting hard..