Cronulla have extended their NRL winning streak to five matches with a gutsy yet scrappy 22-16 defeat of Canterbury, leaping into fifth spot.
After a slow start and a difficult month marred by injuries, Shane Flanagan’s men are now have a 7-4 win-loss record and warming into the season.
With skipper Paul Gallen (knee) and Josh Dugan (foot) making their returns from injury, the Sharks weren’t always pretty but got the job done in front of 14,004 at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
The Dogs only led once, after Josh Morris’ opening try, but came back to earth after last-week’s win over Parramatta, falling to a 3-8 record.
Sharks prop Andrew Fifita continued his stellar form, running for 171 metres and making 33 tackles.
His opposite David Klemmer sent a reminder to NSW Origin selectors with 233 metres off the bench.
After scores were level at 10-10 at halftime, Jesse Ramien sliced through four defenders to give the Sharks a six-point advantage.
The Bulldogs’ got their third try in the left-hand corner when Brett Morris finished off a sharp movement made possible by some quick hands from Kerrod Holland to get back within two points.
From the 43rd to the 67th minute the Bulldogs had a run of five penalties and the pressure eventually told when Matt Prior crashed over the top of Jeremy Marshall-King for what proved the match-clinching try.
Kieran Foran had a chance to set up a grandstand finish but grounded the ball inches short of the line.
Earlier, the Bulldogs struck first when Josh Morris left Ramien grasping at air to bring up his 100th try for Canterbury.
But an Edrick Lee response five minutes later and a deft Matt Moylan chip for Valentine Holmes soon gave the home side the lead.
Scores were locked at 10-10 at the break after Moses Mbye produced a brilliant tap-on for Brett Morris before the Bulldogs No.1 knocked over a penalty conversion.
The Sharks’ enjoyed the ascendancy in the second-half but a Mbye penalty goal got the Dogs back within six, however couldn’t find a way to send it into golden point.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
My partner (who's favourite team is the Panthers but doesn't know the name of the halfback nor could name a single player to have ever played for the Panthers) sat down and watched for about 15 minutes with me yesterday. I commented to her that Channel 9 may lose more than just the cricket if Andrew Johns keeps bagging the referee's at every single stoppage - And even she said - oh good, it isn't just me because i thought he was going over the top. There was plenty in that game I didn't agree with, but it became totally unwatchable the way Johns commentates now. He has the ability to tell us so much about the game, but instead he just talks like one of us and bags the officials no end.
kk
Guest
That was not one 'Ace' Cecchin's best games but he did have the added distraction of work place education of his deputy Phil "Hendo" Henderson. More than once, Matt could be heard yelling at "Hendo" where to stand, what to do. Poor old "Hendo" was obviously suffering with stage fright. At one play he appeared to blow his whistle like a programmed robot and awarded the Sharks a penalty. The players from both sides will go to their graves wondering what that was for.
JVGO
Guest
Regarding the reffing I was complaining after two weeks because they were clearly targeting Cronulla and Melbourne because I guess they were the masters at all these tactics....but when everyone was so enthusiastic and supportive they then have enforced 'the crackdown' across the board and now everyone thinks it's a farce. It is definitely funny that since the Sharks lost half their forward pack the refs have been much kinder to us...younger legs in the replacements? Fifita has barely given a penalty away for weeks and can even now play the ball properly...FFS.
JVGO
Guest
The reffing is a farce and clearly manipulative. I was saying that after two weeks. Now everyone is finally admitting it. I thought the Dogs were pretty solid...just dropped off in the last twenty really...age? fitness? X factor? They should make Segeyaro an offer...although they would likely get confused and drop his passes....and get Ben Barba (as should the Sharks and probably everyone else).
The Barry
Roar Guru
I tipped the Sharks and at one stage expected them to kick away and win well. But this game is a perfect microcosm of what’s wrong with NRL refereeing at the moment. After a tight start with no penalties the Dogs got away to a 4-0 lead. Then all of a sudden they conceded five straight penalties - particularly for offside and leaving the line early. The Sharks were ‘perfect’ in the same period conceding none and kicked to a 10-4 lead. Then with no perceptible shift in how either team was playing the Dogs got a 5-0 count in the last 15 minutes of the half. How is it that after getting to the lead on the back of perfect discipline the Sharks lose the plot and concede five penalties in 15 minutes? It doesn’t make sense. After a breather at halftime and after fighting their way back into the game with their own discipline, the Dogs supposedly threw it out the window and conceded another five straight penalties. The Sharks of course skipped out to a lead and for a few minutes looked like they would run away with the game as they dominated field position. But as you’d expect they decided to throw discipline out the window and concede four or five penalties in the last ten minutes and give the dogs the mildest whiff of victory. None of the above makes sense except: Final score 22-16. Penalty count 11-all. Nice tight even contest. But it was a completely manufactured result. Not complaining about the result. Sharks were the better team for enough of the game to deserve the win and at times the refs kept the Dogs in the game at least as much as costing them the game. No one can look at the flow of that game and convince me it was organic..