Cronulla score their first win of 2019 with 20-6 victory over Gold Coast
Cronulla have opened their account for 2019 with a 20-6 win over the Titans with new faces Briton Nikora and Shaun Johnson playing a starring role.
For six seasons Luke Lewis wore the No.11 jersey at Southern Cross Group Stadium with distinction.
He terrorised players on Cronulla’s right edge walking away with a Clive Churchill Medal in the Sharks’ historic premiership win.
Lewis watched on as the Cronulla’s newest star Briton Nikora scored a try in the Sharks’ 20-6 win against the Titans on Saturday afternoon.
Nikoira impressed Lewis so much that he handed the 21-year-old two points in ABC Grandstand’s player of the year award.
“What I love about him is he doesn’t shy away from defence,” Lewis said. “He is one of the best hole runners I’ve seen coming through the game at such a young age. I can’t wait for his career to unfold.”
Nikora is forming a combination with new recruit Shaun Johnson on the right edge. His 67-minute spell was only broken by time spent on the sideline for a head injury assessment.
Nikora said channelling Lewis last season had him primed to start the year in the top grade.
“He is a big role model for me,” Nikora said. “He and Wade Graham believe in me. He has taught me all the little things like being ready for the short ball. He was one of the best line runners in the game.”
Cronulla coach John Morris showed faith in Nikora by handing him his debut last week.
“I know what he can do, I’ve seen him come through the system,” Morris said. “Those lines he runs I was just waiting for the time to watch him hit a hole. That will be a pivotal moment to give him some confidence.”
BUSTED SHARKS
Hooker Jayden Brailey played just 25 minutes before being forced from the field with concussion. Winger Sosaia Feki – who is also on report - failed to finish the game with a knee injury while fullback Matt Moylan also had minor damage done to his knee. The Sharks also managed to keep the Titans scoreless when Jayson Bukuya was sin-binned in the second half.
ROCKS OR DIAMONDS KATOA
Flying winger Sione Katoa scored two tries in the opening eight minutes and could have scored a first-half hat-trick but finished with a mixed bag. Katoa finished a backline play for his first try before producing the line break to put the Sharks on the attack for his second try. Katoa ran for a Sharks high 216 metres but made five handling errors.
Morris said it was “heart in the mouth stuff”.
“Typical Sione X–factor,” Morris said. “Heart in the mouth type stuff. Some of the stuff he did in the first half they struggled to lay a head on him. You have to give him confidence that it’s ok to make errors at this level.”
STRUGGLING TITANS
The Titans crossed the line three times in the first half but failed to register a point. Ryan James and Jai Arrow were held up in the opening five minutes but the video referee ruled against the Titans.
Five-eighth AJ Brimson fumbled a ball just before the try-line as he tried to regather his own kick.
It took 128 minutes before the Titans scored their first points of the season when winger Brenko Lee scored in the 48th minute.
“We are a team that’s playing hoping to win instead of believing we can win,” Titans coach Garth Brennan said. “We’re down on confidence. Positive is we got over the line four times. We won the second half. We had our opportunities, just need a bit of polish there.”
Brennan said he was hopeful halves Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts will be fit to play South Sydney next Sunday but “would not rush them”.
AWESOME ARROW
Just a week after Jason Taumalolo put a 300 metre plus performance, Gold Coast Titans lock Jai finished with a game high 299 metres from 28 runs.
“He can hold his head up high,” Brennan said. “He is special. If everyone showed as much passionate as Jai arrow the result is different.”
CRONULLA 20 (S Katoa 2 J Dugan B Nikora tries S Johnson 2 goals) bt GOLD COAST 6 (B Lee try M Gordon goal) at Shark Park. Referee: Jon Stone, Tim Roby. Crowd: 15,217
NRL power list rallies to bring baby Ramien home from Bali
Parents, fans, teammates and other NRL stars have rallied behind Jesse Ramien and his fiancee in their mission to get their six-week premature baby back to Australia from Bali, with their story triggering over $50k in donations.
Footy star’s impassioned plea to help bring baby home from Bali
Distraught Sharks star Jesse Ramien and his fiancee have made a desperate plea for help from the Australian Government to source a flight back to Australia for their medically-induced baby, and are seeking donations for the estimated cost of $130,000.