By Christian Nicolussi
GIO Stadium: If Cronulla players wanted respect, they certainly have it now.
The Sharks are off to another preliminary final, they have won nine of their last 10 games, their defence has been sensational, and they are entitled to believe they can upset Melbourne in their own backyard next Friday night for the chance to play in the grand final.
The Sharks broke Canberra hearts with a 32-12 victory on a chilly Saturday night in the nation’s capital.
Most of the Raiders fans were only just starting to recover from the horror show that was the 94-minute golden-point loss to the Broncos six days earlier.
Those supporters had so much to cheer this year, but will spend the next little bit wondering what could have been with their side who bowed out of September in straight sets.
Things were not helped when Ethan Strange was ruled out on Saturday morning because of the flu. You need luck in September, and Canberra’s vanished quicker than a vacant parking spot outside GIO Stadium.
Oh we’re the real deal, baby. Cronulla celebrate a try against Canberra.Credit: Getty Images
Only the players will know if they were mentally and physically hungover from the Brisbane epic.
But more about the Sharks and why they are the real deal. Yes, this really could be their year.
Nicho Hynes noted during the week how the Shire club rarely received the accolades they deserved, and whenever they won, the focus was often on the losing team, bad calls, or which players the opposition had out injured.
“I just don’t think that we get any respect – ever,” he proclaimed.
Under coach Craig Fitzgibbon, they have made four straight finals series.
Fitzgibbon said after the win: “I don’t think we’re any further ahead than what we’ve ever been.
“The only thing I can say is the boys are hungry, they’re making the right choices and decisions.
“We’ve been together for that period of time now, I guess it’s time for us to stand up, or we need to make some changes, or we need to look at what we do and the way we do things.
“We’re playing Melbourne in Melbourne in six days. Like, c’mon, that’s a challenge.
“But we’re ready for that. We’re actually ready. All I can say is we’re ready.”
On Saturday night, Cronulla defended their line for what felt like an eternity in the first half, only to hit the sheds 12-6 ahead after Ronaldo Mulitalo and Hynes scored within three minutes.
Cronulla came into the game having given up just three tries in their previous two games, and were in no mood to give the Raiders any leg-ups.
They kept turning the home side away, and their scramble defence was outstanding. There was plenty of focus on holding the Raiders players up and trying to get as many as three or four defenders into tackles.
Toby Rudolf takes on the Raiders defence.Credit: Getty Images
The Green Machine hit back early in the second half via Savelio Tamale, but from that moment, Cronulla were in control.
Billy Burns skipped through some soft defence from Zac Hosking and Fogarty to score, Hosking then clipped Blayke Brailey high to put the Sharks eight points ahead. Then, KL Iro all but sealed the win when he was on the spot to mop up an ugly Trindall bomb that took a wicked bounce.
Prop Addin Fonua-Blake was brilliant. Mulitalo was also top shelf.
There was a concerning moment when Tom Hazelton was knocked out when tackled by Tom Starling. The pair clashed heads, Starling did nothing wrong, but Hazelton, who grew up in nearby Goulburn, was out cold before he hit the ground. One positive was the fact he could walk from the field.
The Raiders faithful were in full voice, with club legend Bradley Clyde blowing the Viking horn, and one kid enjoying a ‘shoey’ when he realised he was on the big screen at half-time. For the record, it was a can of Sprite.
Grant Atkins has to be in the running to referee the grand final. Listening to the sports ears at the ground, Atkins is clear with his messaging, and like all good players, appears to have plenty of time with what he is doing.
Who knows, he might be officiating the grand final that features the Sharks. Up, Up, Cronulla.
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