Sharks scramble a convincing win despite shabby performance

SHARKS 36, COWBOYS 12

Cronulla’s journey from Vegas to the ’Ville has been an arduous one, but won’t be as long as North Queensland’s trek back into premiership contention from a 0-2 start to the season.

The Sharks will return home sweet home for their next clash with South Sydney. They will do so with a win to their credit and the belief they have bridged the gap between themselves and the four-peat premiers.

Kayal Iro scores for the Sharks.Credit: Getty Images

This was far from a polished performance, but it didn’t have to be. The victory marks Cronulla’s 13th from 15 matches against the northerners, making them a genuine bogey team.

“We had to earn everything we got,” said Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon.

“Post-Vegas, I’m really pleased with tonight. You can’t say it before the game because it’s an excuse, but we had five players with Covid, five players had influenza-A.

“We couldn’t prepare, we couldn’t train, we couldn’t get them in until Monday. We’re the only Vegas team that had to travel post-Vegas.

“I was a bit wary about the hangover, but … I thought we played strong.”

Halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall didn’t truly impose themselves, although their combination improved as the contest progressed. Their best moment came when they combined to put Sam Stonestreet over.

Ultimately, a combination of possession, opposition fatigue and a porous Cowboys right-edge defence ensured the scoreboard regularly ticked over.

The Sharks will cover 40,000km across the first nine rounds of the season. The mileage count spawned a new rugby league cliché Fitzgibbon mused during the week: ‘We’re taking it one trip at a time’. The pay-off is a downhill ski into the finals.

Samuel Stonestreet of the Sharks scores a try during the round two NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Australia.Credit: Getty Images

Their final 10 weeks of the regular season will consist of two byes and five home games, with their longest road trip no further than Gosford for a clash with Souths in round 21.

While Cronulla’s attack didn’t quite click - there’s almost an entire regular season left for that to happen - their defence was impressive. One of the plays of the night was fullback Will Kennedy pushing Murray Taulagi into touch just before half-time.

All up, they conceded just the one try until Josh Drinkwater produced a solo special late.
Just about every time the Cowboys made an error, the Sharks made them pay. Surprisingly, North Queensland’s best period in defence was when they were a man down.

Nothing summed up their night like the sin-binning of Jaxon Purdue; the centre undid all the superb work from his try-saving tackle on Stonestreet by wrestling with him for too long.

It’s only round two and already Cowboys coach Todd Payten is running out of players to drop. Jeremiah Nanai was axed to Queensland Cup, where he was joined by the returning Jason Taumalolo. A hamstring injury prevented Braidon Burns from participating in the second half.

“Every time we got in the arm wrestle, we came up with an error or a penalty and that’s not going to win you games,” Payten said.

“We played two contenders in the past two weeks and we’re a fair way off.”

Things may well get worse for the Cowboys before they get better; they face Brisbane in Brisbane on Friday.

Matty Nicholson, the latest Englishman to roll off the Canberra production line, has scored a brace on debut to lift the Raiders to a 32-22 NRL win over fancied Brisbane.

In front of a boisterous Canberra crowd on Saturday night, the Raiders were convincing against a Broncos side that had looked unstoppable in their round-one drubbing of the Sydney Roosters.

With their team now 2-0 following their opening big win over the Warriors in Vegas, the 18,000-plus Raiders fans in attendance will be brimming with optimism about the young side’s chances this season after claiming one of the biggest scalps in the competition.

Despite a Jesse Arthars hat-trick keeping the score relatively respectable, the home side looked assured against Brisbane’s attacking guns.

Following the departure of the experienced Elliott Whitehead and Jordan Rapana over the off-season, it was unclear who would step up for the Green Machine, with coach Ricky Stuart opting to promote from within rather than target big-name signings.

But he would be more than pleased with the performances of his two new recruits: Nicholson and Savelio Tamale.

It took Nicholson just eight minutes of NRL football to notch his first, shrugging off Broncos enforcer Pat Carrigan en route to the opening try of the game.

Raiders recruit Matty Nicholson.Credit: Getty Images

The former Wigan man scored his second to push the Raiders out to a six-point lead into the interval, as he follows the likes of Whitehead, John Bateman, Josh Hodgson and current teammate Morgan Smithies on the Super League-to-Canberra pipeline.

Rookie winger Tamale also impressed on his home Raiders debut.

The former Dragon pushed the margin beyond three tries in the second half, beating three defenders to score his maiden NRL try on the left edge.

While Canberra’s recruits made their mark, so did some stalwarts.

After Nicholson’s opener, veteran prop Josh Papalii notched his 65th career try, latching onto Sebastian Kris’ bat-back off a Jamal Fogarty bomb, ensuring he has scored in every NRL season since 2011.

Jamal Fogarty kicks a conversion.Credit: Getty Images

He led a masterful performance from the Raiders’ forward pack in the absence of captain Joe Tapine.

Reece Walsh, Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds were kept unusually quiet by the Raiders’ muscular defence.

Tom Starling continued his impressive form in the Raiders’ No.9 jersey, dislodging the ball from Jordan Riki’s grasp early on with a powerful hit on the larger man.

The diminutive hooker extended his side’s lead after halftime, picking up the crumbs after his dummy-half kick was blocked by a Broncos defender and scampering under the outstretched arms of Selwyn Cobbo to the line.

Corey Horsburgh again showed how much of a loss his absence was for the Raiders last season.

The fiery Queenslander soaked up three defenders before offloading five metres from the tryline to Matt Timoko, who finished with aplomb.

Cobbo gave the Broncos some hope with 15 minutes to go, pulling off a smart one-handed catch and put-down to finish off a Reynolds cross-field kick.

AAP

The Broncos were disappointing in Canberra on Saturday night.Credit: Getty Images

SHARKS 36, COWBOYS 12

Cronulla’s journey from Vegas to the ’Ville has been an arduous one, but won’t be as long as North Queensland’s trek back into premiership contention from a 0-2 start to the season.

The Sharks will return home sweet home for their next clash with South Sydney. They will do so with a win to their credit and the belief they have bridged the gap between themselves and the four-peat premiers.

Kayal Iro scores for the Sharks.Credit: Getty Images

This was far from a polished performance, but it didn’t have to be. The victory marks Cronulla’s 13th from 15 matches against the northerners, making them a genuine bogey team.

“We had to earn everything we got,” said Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon.

“Post-Vegas, I’m really pleased with tonight. You can’t say it before the game because it’s an excuse, but we had five players with Covid, five players had influenza-A.

“We couldn’t prepare, we couldn’t train, we couldn’t get them in until Monday. We’re the only Vegas team that had to travel post-Vegas.

“I was a bit wary about the hangover, but … I thought we played strong.”

Halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall didn’t truly impose themselves, although their combination improved as the contest progressed. Their best moment came when they combined to put Sam Stonestreet over.

Ultimately, a combination of possession, opposition fatigue and a porous Cowboys right-edge defence ensured the scoreboard regularly ticked over.

The Sharks will cover 40,000km across the first nine rounds of the season. The mileage count spawned a new rugby league cliché Fitzgibbon mused during the week: ‘We’re taking it one trip at a time’. The pay-off is a downhill ski into the finals.

Samuel Stonestreet of the Sharks scores a try during the round two NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Australia.Credit: Getty Images

Their final 10 weeks of the regular season will consist of two byes and five home games, with their longest road trip no further than Gosford for a clash with Souths in round 21.

While Cronulla’s attack didn’t quite click - there’s almost an entire regular season left for that to happen - their defence was impressive. One of the plays of the night was fullback Will Kennedy pushing Murray Taulagi into touch just before half-time.

All up, they conceded just the one try until Josh Drinkwater produced a solo special late.
Just about every time the Cowboys made an error, the Sharks made them pay. Surprisingly, North Queensland’s best period in defence was when they were a man down.

Nothing summed up their night like the sin-binning of Jaxon Purdue; the centre undid all the superb work from his try-saving tackle on Stonestreet by wrestling with him for too long.

It’s only round two and already Cowboys coach Todd Payten is running out of players to drop. Jeremiah Nanai was axed to Queensland Cup, where he was joined by the returning Jason Taumalolo. A hamstring injury prevented Braidon Burns from participating in the second half.

“Every time we got in the arm wrestle, we came up with an error or a penalty and that’s not going to win you games,” Payten said.

“We played two contenders in the past two weeks and we’re a fair way off.”

Things may well get worse for the Cowboys before they get better; they face Brisbane in Brisbane on Friday.

That’s all from us tonight.

If you want to brush up on the Rabbitohs stunning victory from earlier, you can read all about that here.

Otherwise, you can find all of our rugby league coverage here.

Jamie Humphreys celebrates with teammates.Credit: Getty Images

Enjoy your night.

That’s full-time in Townsville.

Look, not the greatest game of rugby league, but we’ll take it.

A solid enough finish for the Sharks, but there’s plenty of improvement to happen.

As for the Cowboys...Todd Payten has some work to do.

Full-time: Sharks 36, Cowboys 12

A tale as old as time.

The Cowboys score, and after salvaging some pride, cough the ball up with an error and gift Cronulla a try.

This time it’s Kayal Iro who gets a double, and the Sharks close in on 40 points.

Siosifa Talakai has the honours of kicking the conversion, but it hits the upright and bounces off.

Sharks 36, Cowboys 12 with one minute to go

Scott Drinkwaters takes matters into his own hand.

The Cowboys go for a short kick-off, and manage to get the ball back. Drinkwater skips past the Cronulla defense and scores.

It’s not going to get them the win, but it does give the team a little confidence and makes the inevitable loss a little less painful.

Sharks 32, Cowboys 12 with three minutes to go

We’re nearing full-time in Townsville, but Sam Stonestreet soars over on the right edge for his second try of the night.

After a fairly disappointing night from the Sharks, they’re attack is finally starting to click.

After a strong defensive display from North Queensland to start this half, they’re unable to hold off the Cronulla onslaught any longer.

Sharks 32, Cowboys 6 with four minutes to go

OK, Cronulla hear the criticism, and go bang with another try.

This time it’s reliable flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo and Nicho Hynes adds the extras.

Ronaldo Mulitalo celebrates with teammates.Credit: Getty Images

Sharks 28, Cowboys 6 with 16 minutes to go