In a dominant performance, the Cronulla Sharks crushed local rivals St George Illawarra with a 40-8 win to close out Round 4 of the NRL. Reigning Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes had an outstanding return for the Sharks, making his presence felt from the start and playing a pivotal role in the team’s victory.
Although the Sharks had a slow start to the game, with a low completion rate and trailing 8-6 midway through the first half, they went on to outscore the Dragons with seven tries to two in the match. In the second half, the Sharks ran riot and continually turned over the ball to gift their opposition possession, which ultimately held the Dragons scoreless from the 25th minute of the game.
The Sharks showcased their attacking prowess with their back three of William Kennedy, Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Sione Katoa contributing hugely to the outcome. Hynes showed his vision and skill in setting up a try for Kennedy in the first half, and the Sharks continued to dominate in the second half.
Although Ben Hunt tried hard for the Dragons, scoring a try all his own, they were unable to match the Sharks’ level of play. The win was a return to form for the Sharks, who had shown indifferent form to start the season, lifting them to fifth on the ladder with two wins from their four games.
The match highlighted a worrying trend for the Dragons, who have fallen away dramatically in the second half two weeks in a row, despite working to get themselves in front early in matches. Although there was some controversy surrounding one of the Sharks’ tries, the result was a clear and convincing victory for Cronulla.
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