The Sharks’ first 40 minutes on Friday night were, frankly, terrifying.
It was men against boys stuff, as Cronulla rag-dolled the Penrith defence, bursting through the line seemingly at will.
I’ll name Luke Lewis as a shining beacon among a group of players who were out there to make a statement – but let’s be clear, the whole team were ferocious.
It was, in the most classic rugby league sense, an ambush.
Yet, when the two teams headed up the tunnel for oranges, the scoreline read 18-2.
Jimmy Maloney, the wily old fox that he is, realised this game was going to be a lot tighter than had been expected to that point, so when the Panthers were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks on the 40-minute mark, the five-club veteran pointed to the crossbar.
Three converted tries down, and the Panthers took the points. Because they (well, at least one of them) knew that Cronulla had thrown the kitchen sink at them.
And there was still 40 minutes to play.
Now, it doesn’t matter if you win by 50 or you win by a field goal – for the record, Cronulla got up by the latter – in semi-finals footy, you either progress or you get ready to nude up on Mad Monday.
But the way Sharks bashed the Panthers on Friday night, that they ended up getting up by the sketchiest of drop goals isn’t a ringing endorsement of their premiership credentials.
That first half was so intense, they were all over Penrith – yet at the end of proceedings, a solitary point separated the two sides.
And it wasn’t like the Panthers had a second 40 that matched the Sharks’ first half. They just played smart footy – a bit of magic from the likes of Viliame Kikau didn’t hurt – and clawed themselves back into the contest.
Again, it doesn’t really matter how close the mountain men were – it’s knock-out time and you either go on or pack up for the year.
But for all that Cronulla threw at the Panthers, they were hardly convincing victors when the ref blew full time.
And then there’s the casualty ward.
Co-captain Wade Graham is done for the year, and the reason he’s got ‘co’ in his title is because Paul Gallen is still playing footy.
Except he probably won’t be next week.
The oldest man in the NRL headed up the tunnel clutching at his shoulder on Friday night and saw out his team’s victory from the sidelines.
(AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
Asked about his on-field leader’s health at the post-match press conference, Shane Flanagan described Gallen’s chances of playing next week as “a bit unknown”.
“If Gal doesn’t come back on I’m real concerned because he usually can just go in and get it strapped up and battle on,” Flanagan said.
“So for him not to come back in a big semi-final is a bit concerning but let’s just hope that it’s not as bad as first thought.”
Look, at the end of the day, prediction is a mug’s game, so to say the Sharkies are done is the outlook of a real… Um, whatever the word is for a bad kind of mug. One of those plastic schooners that they serve at the footy?
But Cronulla gave their absolute heart and souls on Friday night and ended up getting past the Panthers – a team whose wheels came off in a pretty spectacular fashion over the past month – by one point.
I don’t doubt for a second the Sharks will give the reigning premiers all bloody hell next Friday night – there’s no love lost between the 2016 grand final combatants – maybe they’ll even get past the Storm and we’ll see them in the big dance.
As for Gal hoisting the Provan-Summons Trophy in two weeks’ time? The Sharks just look a bit like North Queensland last year. They might dust some of the big names, but if they’re there on September 30, I reckon they’ll be gassed.
There it is – a plastic schooner at Marathon Stadium’s prediction.
Won’t be the Sharkies winning the 2018 NRL grand final.
slurpy
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I tend to agree Joe. I can't see the sharks getting up over melbourne unless they can put together another first 40 like that. If they can get a fast start and hold out the first stanza, then they might be able to scrape home again, but if Melbourne can run with them I'd say Cronulla are cooked.
David webb
Guest
The reason the storm don't play there grubby brand of footy against cronulla is because cronulla wrestle just like the storm do
Joe
Roar Rookie
Definitely agree with your comments. Sharks always aim up against the Storm and have a healthy rivalry going. Don't have to look too far back to see a team in the Sharks position going all the way. 2015 Cowboys lost their week 1 game, won 2nd week then defeated Storm at home prelim on the way to winning the GF. It has been done before and this year I think both the Sharks and Rabbits have the potential to cause upsets this week and go all the way next week. Sure the weeks rest is great but with a 7 day turnaround I think these teams will be ready to roll next week.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I suppose you have to look at whether the Sharks are going to play for 80 minutes. That come back by the Panthers was unforgivable. The Sharks should have bayoneted the wounded. The Storm will be ferocious. I like the way the Sharks play, but I have the feeling that the next game is going to be like Gallipoli, and the Sharks are going to be the Australians.
Hopefull
Guest
In answer to the question I am saying YES... Rooster’s v Storm GF
peter piper
Guest
No Gallen is a bonus for the Sharks. I believe he has held Cronulla back for years. I am very much in the Gus camp when it comes to this fool.
Craig
Guest
Maloney the wily fox for taking the 2 with no time on the clock? He has no other choice. What a ridiculous statement. Storm for me. But the sharks do have a good record against them.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Yawn...here we go, let's tick of the predictable reasons why the Sharks will lose. Storm have rest. Nelson/Chambers to come back Sharks busted Storm are fantastic The same logic behind people tipping the Bunnies to steamroll the Dragons which they definitely didn't. Or...you could look at the history of these teams. Cronulla are fast off the line and hit hard in defence which Melbourne don't like. Their backs scramble well in defence and don't panic. Holmes, Townshend and Moylan play the game as they see it. They might run, they might pass. They might be missing Gallen and Graham but they will still serve up an almighty challenge to Melbourne if only for Luke "I'm just happy for another week training" Lewis. Very happy to be underdogs.
Dan
Guest
Gal and Lewis both went off injured and Cleary s try which started the comeback was sketchy looked like he bounced it !! Tough win by the Sharks
JVGO
Guest
The comeback was pretty much engineered by the refs. A ridiculous soft gift two before halftime. I don't know that Cleary's try would have been awarded if it had have been the Sharks there, the commentators were all against it being a try. More soft penalties incorrect decisions and a blatant forward pass before the second try. Those 14 points were the result of the NRL wanting a closer game. They got it in spades. Having said that the Sharks are totally up against it in Melbourne. I think the NRL want a Melbourne Sydney GF anyway. Book it.
Yawhoa
Guest
Was an excellent 2 games, but would love to have seen these games played during the daylight hours on both Saturday and Sunday. Also, does Ben Hunt ever get tackled with the ball? seems to be hiding a little too much for my liking.
Chris
Roar Pro
As a Storm fan, I'm not buying any talk of a certain result until the siren sounds on Friday night. Melbourne have struggled to play their brand of footy against Cronulla recently and have found a new bogey side. No matter what happens the previous week, the Sharks always turn up against us. You could have put 50 on them the week before and they'd still show up and rattle our cages. The Sharks haven't always needed Gallen or Wade Graham to put one over the Storm. I think all Melbourne fans were cheering on the Panthers to scrape home because we always somehow seem to be chum in the metaphorical water against the frustrating Sharkies.
David Holden
Roar Guru
A fair portion of the Panther's comeback on Friday night was due to Gallen and Lewis sitting on the bench. It is hard enough to win a semi final without your full 17 available...just look at the Dragons last night. If they are both available, that time on the bench may actually prove invaluable. I'm completely biased, but the Sharks are still a big chance to win this comp.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Last week they didn’t execute and lost,this week they executed and won.. The first Panther try was elementary schoolboy error stuff from Holmes..the other 2 came in the last 15 minutes when the main ‘D’ Gal and Lewis were on the pine. Once a side gets the momentum that the Panthers had in the final 10 it’s a huge task to quell it..Sharkies did..the fire in the belly needs to be stoked for 2 more weeks..
Renegade
Roar Guru
I think Sharks were clinical during the first half but they still weren’t at their best... the difference in class between the two sides may have given off the perception that they were though. The biggest factor in Friday becoming close was Gallen and Lewis coming off, penrith’s “comeback” started with Holmes mishap at the back and cronulla going down to two on the bench - hence the middle got more tired as the game went on. As I said last week, my optimism took a slight blow with wade’s injury... if Gallen and Lewis play, the sharks just need all 17 that take the field to see out the full 80 and they can beat any of the remaining three but will be heavy underdogs as expected - but playing without pressure has its positives just ask the dragons. It’s going to be an enormous task however if there is a team in this competition that can beat the storm in Melbourne during a grand final qualifier - it’s them. Can’t wait for the two preliminary finals next week!
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don’t think Maloney took the two because he sensed there was going to be a second half comeback...there was just nothing else to do in that situation. I agree overall though. The Sharks will have a week of players racing to be fit and patching up busted players while the Storm will be well rested, over their niggles and have players coming back. Tough to see them winning...but nothing would be too surprising in this epic finals series. I thought Gallen had a huge first half as well as Lewis and the Sharks missed them both in the second 40. Rabbitohs are in a similar boat as well although they’re not as busted as the Sharks appear to be and the Roosters don’t look as settled as the Storm. The bunnies also don’t need to travel but when you see how the Souths team looked after Saturday night you realise how big that week off is.
Peter Piper
Guest
Put it this way, I have booked a ticket to watch the sharkies lose on Friday.