Matt Moylan turned in easily his best performance since joining Cronulla, laying on six tries and being involved in a seventh in a 48-10 NRL belting of a woeful Newcastle on Sunday.
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Final score
Newcastle Knights 10
Cronulla Sharks 48
Kalyn Ponga will attempt to inspire the Newcastle Knights back to their best in Round 12 as they host the Cronulla Sharks, who are out to make it six on the trot. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
The Knights have been battling the last month. With Mitchell Pearce sitting on the sidelines, their attack has fallen apart and the defence hasn’t been much better.
With tries being scored against them at will, it seems to have created a vicious cycle where they are unable to stop anything, then have no drive in attack. With a revolving halves combination featuring Jack Cogger and Connor Watson (Brock Lamb is now injured), the team haven’t had any continuity in trying to score points and it’s showing.
They look lost at times and despite scoring 26 points against the similarly poor Gold Coast Titans last week, Newcastle let in 33. Their defence can’t be blamed on Pearce though, with a forward pack who are fast falling out of form needing to shoulder the blame.
Newcastle have now lost three games on the trot and as a result have dropped well out of the top eight, sitting in 11th spot on the ladder. While they do have five wins to their name, turning around their form line is a priority if they have visions of playing in September.
Cronulla as well, need to keep winning. After a horrendous start to the start where they won just two of their first six, they have turned things around and got themselves inside the top eight by winning five games straight.
A loss to the Dragons six weeks ago seemed to spark them to life, with a series of close wins getting their season going. While none of them were convincing, they have done what they needed to do – defend well, limit handling errors and control games so their forwards could dominate.
Across their five wins, the total winning margin has been just 21 points, with the last two games the best of the lot, holding on against the Canberra Raiders and getting the better of the Canterbury Bulldogs at home last week.
Josh Dugan made his return last week and will be better this time for the run, while the halves combination of Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend can continue working themselves out in this game with a good chance to run up plenty of points.
Prediction
The Knights might be back at home where they are traditionally hard to beat, but it’s hard to see where there next win comes from before Pearce gets back from injury.
Sharks by 16.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
steveng
Roar Rookie
How could the Sharks vs Souths 'going to be telling regards this years Grand Finalist'? When Souths won't have GI, Gagai, Cook and Crighton in the side, this is taking out 4 of Souths top players but, Souths will still beat the Sharks, Souths by 18+ at least, we have other alternatives and they are all top notch!. Btw, that Lewis 'late, head high' on Ponga, was a 'dog act' and he should get at least 1 week if not 2! Go the Bunnies.
farkurnell
Guest
Next weeks battle Sharks v Souths is going to be telling regards this years Grand Finalist..I thinks Souths are the form team so far.,sharks n panthers not far behind.Sharks are going to provide the acid test for the souths pack to see if this could be there year.Like Saints ,Sharks have very good defence but the Sharks attack has been developing in recent weeks with many ball-playing forwards offering heaps of variety and unpredictabilty.Containing the Burgess boys holds the key to the match. Sharks have already taken care of Penrith and with many of there star forwards sidelined.. Although Saints easily accounted for the Sharks in Wolllongong that game was an aberation with Sharks losing 4 of there top forwards to injury during that game.I dont consider the result of this match as any indication or bearing on there respective GF credentials. Saints V Penrith match was very interesting.Penrith's pack complete out enthused Saints but what was noticeable was Saints lacked any attacking zip. Arguably Souths n Sharks are the genuine title contenders
Bonza
Guest
I can confirm we're under the radar, that's how we like it. The big love for Red V already fading. Remember in 2015 people were loving the Bunnies and Roosters as only real threats then along came the Cowboys. Great year so far.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No dramas Emcie. Thanks for sticking around!
Emcie
Roar Guru
thanks for the call scotty
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NRL Season as the Cronulla Sharks demolished the Newcastle Knights. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. That's me done for the round, but right now, it's time flick across and join Mr X for the Tigers and Bulldogs. Also be sure to check out my talking points after the round concludes tonight. I'll be back at 10:30am (AEST) tomorrow morning for Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoffs. Bye for now.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Matt Moylan's best game in years. Bittersweet as a Penrith fan to see him playing with such confidence but really happy for him. Cronulla's halves were the only doubt I had over them in 2018 so with a firing Moylan they are definitely premiership contenders. Also, Cronulla have always shown this year that they can grind out wins but they really needed to do what they did today (put a team away easily).
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Don't think you'll be flying under the radar anymore Renegade! The five-straight victories you guys had were good but I guess no one noticed since you hadn't put anyone to the sword (as in you had won every game by 8 points or less) but after that you should get all the credit you deserve.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME 20 seconds on the clock for the Sharks and they will just run it down. Won't even get out of their red zone, but it simply won't matter because the final result in the Hunter sees the Sharks running out convincing 38-point winners, leading from the first score to the last without barely a single blip on the radar. Cronulla have won six in a row, dominating the second half to run away with the game after taking a big lead into the halftime break. Their forwards were brilliant from the outset, laying a platform for their combinations to kick. Matt Moylan will take the credit with a series of try assists, but Valentine Holmes had three, Jesse Ramien two and with a couple of others through the middle, the Knights have plenty to do before they travel to face Parramatta next week. The Sharks, meanwhile, will face South Sydney next Friday at ANZ Stadium in an all top four battle. That is set as a cracker. Knights 10 Sharks 48
Emcie
Roar Guru
well that's game, Cronulla dodged a bullet there
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Shallow dropout towards the sideline and Barnett will bring it back for the Knights. Saifiti goes back to the middle, then it's Ponga stepping, but being tackled by Segeyaro. Back to the left from Levi to Fitzgibbon, but he can't get an offload and is taken to ground. Righty they go now and Moylan tackles Cogger before Watson kicks back to the middle of the field and it's taken by Holmes. Knights 10 Sharks 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Knights bring it away through Kenny-Dowall and Sio before Watson takes on the line and goes to halfway. Offload to Guerra now who is just 30 out, with a suspect pass to Cogger then being shuffled on for Ponga who steps back to the middle, but can't get through. Last play and it's a grubber through from Watson, Holmes taking it dead and we have a dropout. Knights 10 Sharks 48
Renegade
Roar Guru
Flying under the radar and in the top 4, just how we like it ?
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Sharks bring it away from the scrum through Leutele and Graham, before Gallen is sent back through the middle third of the field. Segeyaro now finds Leutele who was almost through. Reasonably quick play the ball, then Gallen has another run. Townsend then dribbles a kick into touch. Knights 10 Sharks 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
I've got a talking in mind, that's for sure.
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Sio back from the kick-off here for the Knights. Fitzgibbon now has a carry through the middle, before Guerra goes off to the open side. Now up the middle and Ese'ese with a great offload for Cogger who was through, but dragged down 25 out. Now they come left and Ponga goes to Buhrer who tries to tip it on. Dugan gets a hand on the ball, but the pass was forward. Knights 10 Sharks 48
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Was going to write an article about how Cronulla have been flying under the radar despite winning five straight... certainly don't think they are flying under the radar anymore - surely they get some serious wraps in the media after this effort.
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - CONVERSION MISSED by KALYN PONGA Knights 10 Sharks 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, there we go. Now for another six converted tries in 6 minutes.