A 36-16 victory over the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon saw the Sharks make it two from two in the Pre-season Challenge, but it wasn't enough to jump them past the Sea Eagles to win the $100,000 competition.
Requiring the maximum 15 competition points to draw equal with Manly and force a countback – which they would have won on points differential – the Sharks secured bonus points for tries and line breaks, but fell short of the 10 offloads needed for the third bonus point, registering just three.
After a horror start saw them kick out on the full and leak a try within the opening two minutes, Cronulla were the better team for much of the 80 minutes at Belmore Sports Ground.
Back-rower Teig Wilton and winger Ronaldo Mulitalo both scored doubles in the win, halves Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan looked assured in their roles, while fullback William Kennedy produced some huge plays on defence, including a crucial try-saver midway through the first half.
Ronaldo raises the roof
Of main concern for the Bulldogs will be the Round 1 availability of major off-season recruit Viliame Kikau, who failed a HIA in the first half after making a dream start to his Bulldogs career with a try on his first touch.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo likely still has questions over who his fullback will be for Round 1 too, after a mixed showing from Hayze Perham.
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Match Snapshot
- The Sharks made it two from two in the Pre-season Challenge but fell short of overtaking the Sea Eagles on the ladder, with Manly confirmed as the inaugural winners of the competition.
- Viliame Kikau failed a HIA midway through the first half, having earlier marked his first outing in Bulldogs colours by scoring with his first touch of the ball.
Two for Teig
- With the win safely in the bag coach Craig Fitzgibbon rested most of his star players for the final quarter of the match.
- Blayke Brailey kicked out on the full to open the game, and on the next set the Bulldogs opened the scoring through Kikau.
- Sione Katoa hit back for the Sharks on 16 minutes, before Teig Wilton and Ronaldo Mulitalo added further tries, all of which were converted by Nicho Hynes, for a 18-4 lead at the break.
- Wilton and Mulitalo secured their personal doubles early in the second stanza, and with Hynes again on song with the boot the scoreline blew out to 30-4.
- Rookie Samuel Stonestreet scored another for Cronulla on the hour before Josh Reynolds sent the crowd into a frenzy with a try in his Belmore return.
Play of the Game
While it was his backline teammates who produced the flashy plays on attack, William Kennedy was huge off the ball for the Sharks. This try-saver on Jake Averillo came as the game sat in the balance in the first half and is an early entry for best defensive play of 2023.
Kennedy with a stunning try saver
What they said
"It was a traditional trial where we were a bit scrappy at times when you're trialling a number of different players. The best thing that came out of it was our resilience on the tryline. We leaked some towards the end there but it was otherwise pleasing." - Sharks captain Dale Finucane.
"I wouldn't say [it was too bad], we got a lot right at the start and the effort was really good. It was just a few minor things, defending last play and our kick selection on last play, we put ourselves in a position where we had to defend too much. There are plenty of learnings for us ... I don't think the score really outlined it." - Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney.
Mayor of Belmore returns with a try
What's Next
Both sides now prepare to kick off their NRL campaigns on Saturday, March 4, with the Bulldogs travelling to face Manly at 4 Pines Park and the Sharks at home to the Rabbitohs at PointsBet Stadium.