Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
24
Match Complete
St. George Illawarra Dragons
18
| 77 |  | Z. Lomax | ||
| N. Hynes |  | 65 | ||
| W. Graham |  | 64 | ||
| 55 | | M. Feagai | ||
| 45 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 44 | | T. Moga | ||
| N. Hynes | | 36 | ||
| T. Wilton | | 35 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 26 | ||
| B. Trindall | | 24 | ||
| 9 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 8 | | J. D. Belin | ||
| N. Hynes | | 3 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 2 |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Cronulla Sharks could all but end the St George Illawarra Dragons finals hopes when they host them tonight. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
The Sharks sit alone in third place on the ladder after a heart-stopping golden point win over the Rabbitohs last week. Nicho Hynes booted them to victory, after both sides traded a number of field goal attempts after regular time.
The Dragons crashed back to earth, conceding 24 unanswered points in the second half to the Cowboys. It has them back in 11th on the ladder with a differential of -124, meaning a loss tonight could see them effectively three wins out of the eight with just four rounds to go. This is a must-win for them.
The Sharks have been dealt a blow, Will Kennedy out until the finals with an ankle complaint.
Kade Dykes makes his debut at the back. Royce Hunt is out with a shoulder injury, it sees Brayden Hamlin-Uele join the starting side, and Braydon Trindall promoted to the bench.
Coach Anthony Griffin has stuck solid with the same 17 from last week.
These two have already met this year, back in Round 3. The Sharks ran out comfortable winners in Wollongong in wet conditions, 32-12.
The Sharks are on a run of four straight wins over the Dragons. They also haven’t lost to their local rivals at home since 2018. The Dragons don’t have a bad record playing in Cronulla, winning 40 per cent of games played overall.
Prediction
On paper, this looks like the tale of two teams on very different trajectories. The Sharks have put together a very consistent year and look set to be rewarded with a spot in the top four. Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan have been controlling things beautifully and they are really out of a contest.
The Dragons needed to win last week. At home and with everything to play for they had no answers in the second half. They rely on Ben Hunt – if he has a good game then the Dragons seem to be a chance, however, if he is well contained it is hard to know who they are going to look to.
St George have been consistent this year, just not good enough when a team really pushes them and starts asking some questions. They play high-percentage football and can grind things out against lowly opposition but have no other gear when sides take it to them, as was the case last week.
You just have to think that back at home, and eager to stay in the top four, that the Sharks will have too much for the Dragons. The Dragons will be competitive but ultimately they just don’t have the points in them.
Sharks by 10.
Game information
Kick-off: 7.35pm (AEST)
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Wooloware
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Live stream: 9Now, Kayo Sports
Odds: Sharks $1.30; Dragons $3.55 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Cronulla Sharks
1. Kade Dykes 2. Connor Tracey 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicholas Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes
Interchange/Reserves: 14. Braydon Trindall 15. Aiden Tolman 16. Teig Wilton 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller 19. Jesse Colquhoun 20. Royce Hunt 21. Matt Ikuvalu 22. Thomas Hazelton
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Moses Mbye 2. Mat Feagai 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Jayden Su’A 13. Tariq Sims
Interchange/Reserves: 14. Tyrell Sloan 15. Aaron Woods 16. Francis Molo 17. Josh McGuire 18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Tyrell Fuimaono 22. Jackson Ford
steveng
Roar Rookie
Let's see what happens, as we can have a go all we like but the proof is always in what each side does.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah would be great if every team could play Penrith without their 3 best players in a couple weeks… that lucky draw might be what gets the bunnies into the 8
Mary Studdert
Guest
Dragon's supporter for 50years, unless a team has a spine that weather the storm of top teams , it's a difficult game to win consistently. I personally don't believe there are 17 top first grade players for 17 teams next year. I support coach of the Dolphins that ALL forward get the same payment , then each forward knows his tackle is as important as his forward colleague. Mary from Mortdale
Tony
Roar Guru
Gets my vote
Rossi
Roar Rookie
They've given him 4 weeks, bewildering when the two thugs got nothing but a fine between then last week. I wonder if they could send him to Storm to open up the cap a little, and Melbourne get a fresh forward for the finals?
steveng
Roar Rookie
:laughing: ‘everything going our way”??? The usual excuses, as I’ve said if your boys play us again ‘you won’t win’! Don’t forget what everyone said about sides losing by 50 also. The Sharks were pathetic against a pathetic Dragons side, they are lucky that they have an easy draw with the Tigers, Manly, Dogs and Knights? As the way they played last night irrespective of their outs and excuses I cant see them getting anywhere even you have to admit that just like I’m admitting that about the Bunnies this year. Lets see what happens.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Lol you say this stuff every year Steve :laughing: The fact everything went Souths way last week and they still couldn’t do it, I highly doubt they’ll have any chance next time – didn’t this dragons team put 30 on souths?
steveng
Roar Rookie
No they won't, that last game was a fluke and it won't happen again if the Sharks play against us, you mark my words!
Renegade
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
Me too
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Us ref's like to do that in our spare time. It's a nice way to infuriate fans and teams even more. Im all for wacky rules. If we throw the rule book out and just allow everything and anything, then....well that's the bunker now I suppose
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the laugh, R.N, needed it after that slogathon.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Thanks a lot, Tony - whoever replaces him just might be worse.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
And to finish the weekend the match of the round . CH 9 are going out of their way to win over the fans .
Birdy
Roar Rookie
My specsavers comment was about Simms
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Gee Wade Graham's kid is a chip off the old block!
R N
Roar Rookie
Yeah I was really looking forward to this game... neither team turned up. Was mostly inept across the board. Apart from Woods... he was the one shiny star of professionalism, enthusiasm and competence :silly:
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Both Jenny.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call Jack, frustrating is a polite word to call it being a dragons fan
JGK
Roar Guru
Dragons tried hard but as usual their utter ineptitude in the attacking 20 let them down.