Bronson Xerri stars as Cronulla beat Parramatta 42-22 in the Shire
Cronulla have once again flexed their premiership muscle with a dominant victory over a struggling Parramatta outfit, with young flyer Bronson Xerri giving the Shire folk plenty to smile about.
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It was a 33-minute Wade Graham stint which could catapult the Sharks into a genuine premiership threat.
Graham was at his damaging best during Cronulla’s 42-22 win against Parramatta in front of 12,386 fans at PointsBet Stadium.
The back-rower started from the interchange bench in his first game of the season since injuring his knee last year.
After easing into the game with six minutes remaining in the first half, Graham came into his own in the second half.
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He finished with two line breaks and two line break assists in a left-side combination with Bronson Xerri who switched to that side of the field with Josh Morris rested. Xerri scored twice and finished with 10 tackle breaks.
“I was a little nervous when I woke up,” Graham said. “It’s the longest time I’ve had off. I was anxious to get it done.
“It’s a big relief to rip that band aid off. I always want to be a threat down that (left) edge. That’s how I’ve always played my footy.
“(Xerri) is just a weapon on that left. When you have someone like his pace and skill I’ll try use him up as much as I can.”
The Sharks were in control at half-time with an 18-6 lead before extending that margin by 38-6 after 62 minutes. The Eels rallied late to score three tries in 10 minutes to crawl back the margin.
Sharks coach John Morris praised Graham.
“You can see straight away the difference he brings,” Morris said. “There aren’t many back-rower like Wade.”
PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME
Eels coach Brad Arthur has challenged his team to become more resilient in the face of adversity.
The Eels night started badly when skipper Clint Gutherson came from the field after just three minutes after being concussed when colliding with Josh Dugan as the Parrmatta fullback tried to scoop up a grubber kick.
Will Smith went from five-eighth to fullback with veteran prop David Gower playing five-eighth.
“We have to decide if we want to be a full-time team or a part-time team,” Arthur said. “Full-time is all the time every week. Coming to games when things don’t’ go quite our way we need to harden up.
“We were dumb in a lot of things we did. You can’t start well one week and dip the toe in the next week. I don’t want to keep making changes every week because that doesn’t’ help anyone. I’m sick of talking about it.
“There needs to be a change to our approach.”
Eels lock Tepai Moeroa was placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Flanagan after the Cronulla five-eighth kicked the ball.
HALF DEBATE
Shaun Johnson is looming to return while Morris said halfback Chad Townsend is in “career best” form.
Rookie Kyle Flanagan is also proving he is more than capable playing in the halves as he continues to grow in the role.
“That’s going to be a hard decision to make,” Morris said of Johnson’s return. “Trying to fit all the players into the 17. It’s a good headache to have. That’s why I didn’t rush Shaun back. Kyle is doing a good job.”
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MOSES HIGH AND LOW
Mitchell Moses’ contract was extended 68 minutes before kick-off keeping him at the club for another three years. But he had a mixed night despite celebrating a new deal.
Moses failed to find touch from a penalty kick before being steamrolled by prop Andrew Fifita for Cronulla’s second try. Moses did lay on two of Parramatta’s tries including a well-timed grubber for winger one of Maika Sivo’s tries.
“It’s good for the club,” Arthur said. “We want to try and get that stuff sorted.”
The positive for the Eels was Nathan Brown’s successful return.
CRONULLA 42 (B Xerri 2 J Dugan A Fifita K Flanagan A Gray C Townsend tries K Flanagan 7 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 22 (M Sivo 2 J Hoffman M Jennings tries M Moses 3 goals) at PointsBet Stadium. Referee: Chris Butler, PeterGough. Crowd: 12,386
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