Depleted Cronulla Sharks stun Melbourne Storm 20-18 in Shire

After watching his side bring down Melbourne, Sharks coach John Morris declared the tight win could be the springboard for a title tilt. But Storm mentor Craig Bellamy was blowing up.

Briton Nikora added to his try scoring tally in his debut year. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

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John Morris could not have been prouder. Craig Bellamy could not have been clearer.

In the wake of watching his injury depleted Cronulla bring down the might of a full

strength Melbourne, Morris declared the 20-18 victory could be the springboard to

launch the Sharks’ tilt for this year’s NRL title.

But a furious Bellamy was scathing at the performance of his team, labelling the

second half effort “crap” and threatening if it doesn’t change next week some

reputations could end up on the floor.

Briton Nikora added to his try scoring tally in his debut year. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

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UP, UP CRONULLA

You should have heard the locals as the fulltime hooter sounded as they stood and

sang their famous team song. And you didn’t have to be a Sharkies fan to cheer the

victory.

No Shaun Johnson. No Wade Graham. No Matt Moylan. No Aaron Woods.

No bloody worries.

While almost every expert had written the Sharks off given their massive casualty list,

Morris was adamant he always believed: “100 per cent. It was probably the word of

the week. Believe.

The Sharks are back in business.

“This team is a very experienced team and they play their best when they have their

backs against the wall, that’s for sure.”

The Sharks went from 12-all at halftime to an eight-point lead heading into the final

minutes but had to withstand a thrilling finish after the Storm scored late through

rookie Ryan Papenhuyzen to pull the margin back to two points.

So far this year Melbourne, the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney have been the

standout teams.

Jesse Bromwich found the tryline on a tough night for the visitors.

Asked if that victory could be the match that launches the credentials of his team,

Morris said: “I think so. If we would have dropped that one, we would have been one

from our last five. So we had to put our foot down. We had to get a victory. We had to

beat someone that was up the top of the ladder and I am really proud.

“What a second half. We were 20 from 20 with the ball. Not one error in the second

half. That is what it takes to beat the Melbourne Storm. They are a great club.”

YOUNG FLANNO SHINES

With Morris now in charge, Shane Flanagan was left to cheer from the southern stand

as his young bloke Kyle played up a storm.

The young playmaker was having only his second start for the season and the third of

his career, but didn’t he handle the occasion.

Morris praised a crucial try Flanagan set up in the countdown to halftime with a

classy grubber kick that Briton Nikora as “pivotal”, while the 20-year-old playmaker

also landed four goals.

The ever consistent Chad Townsend was also outstanding but across the park there

were so many brave performances you could make mention of all 17.

Luke Capewell and Nikora were outstanding, while Morris said of his fullback: “We

don’t win it without Josh Dugan”.

BELLAMY’S BLAST

The beauty of Bellamy is that he calls it for what it is, and last night he didn’t mince

his words: “We were out played. We were out-toughed. We were out-toughed

physically. We were out-toughed mentally. Their game management was a whole

heap better than us.”

What’s more, the Storm players better turn it around on Magic Weekend in Brisbane

otherwise Bellamy won’t hesitate to make changes.

Asked if underestimating the opposition could have been the reason behind the sub-

par performance, Bellamy was in no mood to use that as an excuse: “It was a bit like

that last week with the Warriors. If that was an excuse last week we should have

learned.

LISTEN! Matty reveals the biggest lie he ever told coach, the song he can’t get out of his head, an Origin rumour that won’t go away and what it’s like to have a video session under Tommy Raudonikis. Don’t miss this week’s episode of the Matty Johns podcast.

“To me it wasn’t an excuse. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter who you play

against, where you play. You know you are going to get a tough game in the NRL.

“And that is one thing I think we have been pretty strong at over the years.

“But the last couple of weeks I am starting to doubt that this group has got that.”

CRONULLA 20 (S Katoa B Nikora B Uele tries K Flanagan 4 goals) bt MELBOURNE 18 (J Addo-Carr JBromwich R Papenhuyzen tries C Smith 3 goals) at PointsBet Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Crowd:7,683.

Originally published as Depleted Cronulla Sharks stun Melbourne Storm 20-18 in Shire