Sharks grit teeth to sink Cowboys 16-14 in Cronulla keeping finals hopes alive

At first glance, it appears Sharkies fans can expect to see plenty more of the latest young gun to come off Cronulla’s production line, who earned huge praise from NSW coach Brad Fittler.

Shaun Johnson starred in the home side’s crucial win. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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Shaun Johnson, he earned his cash in this one.

And given the Cronulla No.6 is, you may have heard, being paid something like $3 million bucks by the Shire club ... well, it means he has some playing to do.

But on a night when the Sharkies were staring down six straight defeats, it was Johnson who won his side the result against North Queensland -- and, potentially, saved their season -- with the type of performance that for years made him a Warriors poster boy.

Shaun Johnsonwas outstanding as the Sharks found form.

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Despite entering this one covered in more question marks than The Riddler, the New Zealand Test ace orchestrated two tries, and almost three, to secure the type of win that, afterwards, had no less than Prime Minister Scott Morrison banging an esky during the team song.

For the first try, Johnson threw a spiralling cut out for winger Ronaldo Mulitalo -- the Shire youngster proving as tough to stop as his name is to pronounce.

Then for the second, and with the match on the line, it was a short ball for his tattooed fullback.

And more on Duges shortly.

“I thought he was good, Shaun,” Sharks coach John Morris said afterwards.

Josh Dugan had an up-and-down game.

“The last couple of weeks we haven’t had any good ball in attack.

“Last week we had two tackles inside the Warriors 20m line and the week before (against Melbourne), eight or nine. So it’s hard to be setting up tries when you’re not down that end of the field.

“We were a different story tonight though. And I think if we can get more ball down that end, you’ll see Shaun Johnson come to life.”

And ScoMo?

“Yeah, he got a go on the esky bashing,” Morris laughed.

“I think he had a sore had at the end, he was enjoying it”.

Kyle Feldt gets taken out by Chad Townsend. Picture: Phil Hillyard

DUGAN’S MIXED BAG

Josh Dugan screamed all night at the referees.

While the Shark Park crowd, they screamed all night at Dugan.

And somehow, everyone went home happy.

Less than a fortnight since Gorden Tallis suggested he should retire, Duges once again produced the type of mixed display that has come to define his season.

In a game where he ran for 206m, made six tackle breaks and scored the match-winner, the fullback also fumbled his first carry to gift the Cowboys a try. He also then appeared to give them a second when he tried to boot a grubber kick dead ... and missed the ball completely.

Thankfully, Townsville winger Kyle Feldt fumbled attempting to force it.

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TEST MATCH BILLY

At first glance, it appears Sharkies fans can expect to see plenty more of debutant forward Billy Magoulias.

Apart from carrying the ball strongly, the young Sharkie also earned a massive rap from NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler, who oversaw his development while heading the State’s Pathways program.

“My favourite player coming through,” Fittler said.

Billy Magoulias made his NRL debut for the Sharks. Picture: AAP

“He’s a footy player out of the old mould. They call him Test Match Billy because every training session is like a Test Match to him.”

Magoulias finished with 75 run metres from eight carries, and chimed in with 21 tackles in an energetic stint off the bench.

Elsewhere, Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen was outstanding, running for 224m and making 37 tackles

GOOD ADVICE

Ok, so his surname sounds like a barmaid around 2am.

But otherwise, it’s hard to find fault with Scott Drinkwater.

Starting the year as Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy’s first-choice fullback, the 22-year-old Terrigal product, and now Cowboys import, motored around Sharks halfback Chad Townsend for a try, diffused bombs, saved tries and looked every inch a young bloke with a big NRL future.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was on deck to support his Sharks. Picture: Cameron Spencer

CRONULLA 16 (J Dugan R Mulitalo B Xerri tries S Johnson 2 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 14 (S Drinkwater F Molo M Scott tries J Clifford goal) at PointsBet Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Jon Stone. Crowd: 6144

Originally published as Sharks grit teeth to sink Cowboys 16-14 in Cronulla keeping finals hopes alive