NRL 2021: Cronulla Sharks win 24-16 over Brisbane Broncos | Match Report

Amid another season to forget, Brisbane can at least look positively at 2022 in one position as a young gun continues to make exciting progress.

The Broncos could be the first to lose 18 games in a season since 1988. Picture: NRL Images.

Embattled Brisbane are on the verge of a club-record 33-year losing low after the Sharks moved within striking distance of the finals with a 24-16 disposal of the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters’ class of 2021 equalled Anthony Seibold’s wooden-spoon side of 2020 by crashing to their 17th defeat of the season against a Sharks side that had slightly more class and desperation.

No Brisbane side since the birth of Wayne Bennett’s Broncos in 1988 has lost 18 games in a single season.

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The Broncos could be the first to lose 18 games in a season since 1988. Picture: NRL Images.

But while they have offloaded the wooden spoon, Walters’ troops will claim an unwanted slice of history if they back-up their Sharks defeat with a final-round loss to Newcastle next Saturday at Suncorp.

The hosts led 10-4 early and dominated the second half, but three Sharks tries during a 21-minute Broncos siesta moved Cronulla into eighth spot and relegated Brisbane to second last.

“The effort was there but we weren’t quite there with our discipline,” Walters said. “We had a couple of sin bins which was disappointing.”

MILESTONE MILF

It was a bitter-sweet night for Brisbane’s milestone men Anthony Milford and Brendan Piakura.

Celebrating his 150th game for the Broncos, Milford had his moments. He looked the ‘Milf’ of old when he sliced through in the 51st minute for Tesi Niu’s second try, but the Souths-bound pivot couldn’t conjure enough magic to sink the Sharks.

For Piakura, it was an inauspicious NRL debut. The highly-rated back-rower came on in the 59th minute and lasted just six minutes before being sin-binned and booked for a late shot on Braydon Trindall.

“Brendan is a bit disappointed in the sheds,” Walters said. “He didn’t play many minutes, but he showed he is going to be a good player for us in the future.”

Anthony Milford stood up for his 150th Broncos game, but just couldn’t get it done. Picture: Getty Images.

FIERY FLEGLER

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has urged Tom Flegler to clean up his act or risk further suspension as the firebrand prop faces a possible five-week ban.

Flegler was on Sunday slapped with a grade three careless high tackle charge by the NRL judiciary for his shot on Cronulla’s Jack Williams on Saturday – a hit which saw the Broncos forward spend 10 minutes in the sin bin.

The 22-year-old is expected to miss Brisbane’s final game of the season this weekend, with the young gun facing a possible five-week suspension because of carry-over points.

Flegler can reduce it to four weeks with an early guilty plea and with Brisbane out of finals contention, will likely see him miss the opening rounds of the 2022 season.

Broncos debutant Brendan Piakura is also facing a two to three-week suspension after being charged by the judiciary for a grade two dangerous contact on Braydon Trindall.

Tom Flegler could miss several games next season. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

The club was on Sunday yet to decide on their position for both charges, but Walters urged Flegler to clean up his act.

“He has to find that balance,” Walters said. “Tom does like to play aggressively, but he has to make sure he works on his discipline.

“It is a tough balance, but he will have to find a way or he will be sitting on the sideline a lot.”

This week’s game against Newcastle becomes a must-win clash if the Broncos want to avoid the mantle of recording the most losses in one season in club history.

BRIGHT NIU ERA

Brisbane rookie Niu ramped-up his claims to be the Broncos’ permanent fullback next season with another promising display.

The 20-year-old carved up Cronulla with a two-try haul in round 16 and he unlocked the Sharks again with another double.

The Broncos will field a new-look playmaking spine in 2022 and Niu deserves first crack at the No.1 jumper, having amassed 1462 metres in nine games since his move to fullback.

Tesi Niu was a standout for the Broncos and looks set to lock down the fullback role for 2021. Picture: Getty Images.

TACKLING THE PROBLEM

Brisbane have shown signs of regeneration over the past eight weeks. But the reality is the Broncos won’t play finals football next season if they don’t plug the holes in defence.

The Broncos have leaked a club-record 673 points this year and have given up a shocking 116 tries, eclipsing the previous low of 115 they conceded in 2009.

Marquee halfback recruit Adam Reynolds can’t work playmaking miracles next season if the Broncos aren’t technically sharper in defence.

SHARKS STAY IN THE FINALS HUNT

—Joel Gould

The Sharks are back in eighth position on the ladder and control their own finals destiny after a comeback 24-16 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. With club legend Andrew Fifita on the sideline after recovering from surgery on a fractured larynx the Cronulla side epitomised the courage the 2016 premiership winner has shown.

Coach Josh Hannay said Fifita’s presence was a huge lift to the team.

“He realises we are a young group and while he can’t be out there physically contributing, just an arm around the young guys and a little word of advice before the game is [inspiring],” Hannay said.

“Andrew has done some wonderful things for the club and the players really look up to him.”

The Sharks move back into eighth spot on the ladder and remain in the hunt to play finals football in 2021. Picture: Getty Images.

Cronulla will be sweating on the match review committee’s ruling on a high and late shot by centre Jesse Ramien on Herbie Farnworth which was picked up by the bunker.

The Sharks will also be hoping that the Storm do them a favour and rest their stars for the final round match when the two sides clash on Friday night on the Gold Coast.

“There is some chat that they will rest some players but our motto for some time has been that if we win we control our destiny,” Hannay said.

Cronulla, equal on 22 points with the Raiders but with a better points differential, may have to win that clash to book a place in the play-offs.

Cronulla, trailing 10-4, scored twice while Thomas Flegler was in the sin-bin in the first half to set up the win with Will Kennedy, Braydon Trindall and Briton Nikora all on song.

The Broncos lost Brendan Piakura to the bin in the second half for a late shot on Trindall as the Sharks started to get the jitters and blow try scoring chances, but they hung on with traditional Sharks grit and determination.

“We weren’t great tonight but we were great with our attitude and tough in the tough parts,” Hannay said.

“I think we do [deserve to play finals]. Nothing has been gifted to us.”

Sione Katoa scored another incredible try, going within centimetres of touch in goal. Picture: Getty Images.

The magic of fullback Kennedy has been a feature of the Sharks play this year and the tyro fullback set up an acrobatic Sione Katoa for the opening try.

The Broncos fought to the lead and the Sharks needed something and they got a break when Flegler was binned for a high shot on Jack Williams. The brute strength of Jesse Ramien to get the ball down with four defenders grappling with him was the spark the Sharks needed.

The Sharks will have to be far better to beat Melbourne but they were desperate. A try saver by Matt Moylan on Selwyn Cobbo late on was critical in getting them home. Moylan’s defence was superb at the death and inspired his side to hang on. It was the sign of a team that wanted to play finals footy and did everything to give themselves a chance.

The Broncos also had TC Robati put on report for a crusher tackle on Trindall.

FINALS COUNTDOWN

When the Sharks run out at CBUS Super Stadium next Friday night against the Storm they will have their destiny in their own hands. They will know the result of the Raiders v Roosters game the previous evening. The Sharks have the better for and against with -24. The Raiders have a points differential of -73. Two points further back on the ladder the Titans (-47) have a better points differential than Canberra but will have to beat the Warriors well on Sunday and hope the Sharks and Raiders both lose. Any which way, the battle for eighth spot will not be decided until the final round.

William Kennedy was once again a standout for the Sharks, with a hand in multiple tries. Picture: Getty Images.

WILL’S WAY

Good things have happened around Kennedy this year and this clash was no different. He leads most of the Sharks attacking statistics and took his line break assists to 22 for the year. His rapport with halfback Trindall has been a factor in the Sharks remaining in the finals hunt. Kennedy’s chase pressure on Cobbo when the game was on the line saved a try and showcased his desperation and effort.

“He has gotten to the point where we are not just talking about a guy in good form. We are talking about a really good player,” Hannay said.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Cronulla Sharks win 24-16 over Brisbane Broncos | Match Report