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Sharks gun’s ominous warning before cheeky $100k claim; star sends Dogs fans wild

The Cronulla Sharks tuned up for the start of the NRL season with huge win but it wasn’t quite perfect as a payday went begging.

Fox League
2 min read
February 19, 2023 - 8:45PM
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Dale Finucane of the Sharks looks on during the NRL Semi Final match between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Dale Finucane of the Sharks looks on during the NRL Semi Final match between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The Bulldogs scored the opener but it was all the Sharks from the 15-minute mark as they cruised to a thumping 36-16 win on Sunday.

Canterbury recruits Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau combined to score after Cronulla put the kick-off out on the full.

Mahoney put a grubber through close to the line and Kikau pounced on a deflection to score and send the Belmore crowd into raptures after just 90 seconds.

But Kikau’s afternoon only lasted 15 minutes after he went off following an awkward tackle and failed his HIA.

But from there, it was all one way traffic as the Sharks run up a score.

A nice cut-out pass from reigning Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes saw winger Sione Katoa cross in the corner untouched in the 18th minute.

Hynes looks set for another massive year after a second straight starring performance.

Hynes was man-of-the-match in the All Stars match last week and backed it up with another sensational display against the Bulldogs.

The classy halfback finished with two try assists and 10 points in his 55-minute shift, while his halves partner Matt Moylan also set up two tries.

“The halves have been fantastic, Matt Moylan who missed last week’s trial game has been terrific, Nicho starred for the Indigenous boys for the All Stars and again tonight,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.

Cronulla captain Dale Finucane added at full-time: “He played really well tonight and had the ball on a string with his goal kicking too, Daryl Halligan has really done wonders for him in the pre-season so he’s up for another big one.”

The Sharks were looking good. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
The Sharks were looking good. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Hynes went off in the 55th minute and told sideline reporter Darcie McDonald that coach Craig Fitzgibbon would be pleased with their performance.

“I’m buggered, that was a very, very hot that first 40. We had a bit of a shaky start but we got back into the grind and put some points on,” he said.

“We showed resilience there after they scored that first try. They attacked our line a fair few times there and we defended it well.”

Cooper Cronk echoed the sentiment.

“You’ve got to give Cronulla credit because that first 20 minutes it was all Dogs and energetic Belmore were up and about but the Sharks just fell into rhythm and dominated that second 20 minutes. Craig Fitzgibbons has a good side on his hands,” he said.

However, the win wasn’t quite perfect as the Sharks finished seven offloads short of securing the $100,000 prize for winning the Pre-season Cup, which went to Manly.

Teams were awarded 12 points for a win, and six for a draw, while there were several ways to score bonus points.

If a team scores five or more tries, they earn one extra bonus point, while earning the same amount for five or more linebreaks and 10 or more offloads.

But Sharks skipper Dale Finucane confessed after the game on Sunday that he had no idea about the format.

“I’ve only just become aware of that challenge, I wasn’t aware until the end when the boys were calling out for the offloads,” Finucane said.

“It would have been nice to win it.”

Back where he belongs. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Back where he belongs. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

It was also a nice return for Bulldogs favourite Josh Reynolds, who came into the game in the 50th minute to a hero’s welcome from the Belmore faithful.

The Bulldogs crossed for two late consolation tries with the last one scored by cult hero Reynolds.

“Look who’s got it, Joshy Reynolds, and they’ve gone up like they’ve won the premiership,” Smith said.

The crowd started chanting “Reynolds” after the fan favourite son scored in Bulldogs colours for the first time in 2017.

Originally published as Sharks gun’s ominous warning before cheeky $100k claim; star sends Dogs fans wild

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sharks-guns-ominous-warning-before-cheeky-100k-claim-star-sends-dogs-fans-wild/news-story/de168f13200a8d0142c9ade2c87a8d18