It will go down as one of the gutsiest wins in Cronulla’s history.
Despite a decimated forward pack, a long road trip and a hostile home crowd, Cronulla downed Canberra 16-14 in their qualifying final on Saturday night to storm into the preliminary final.
Cronulla were without captain Paul Gallen who was ruled out on the morning of the game with a back problem, as well as forwards Joseph Paulo and Sam Tagataese through season ending injuries.
They faced a daunting trip to GIO Stadium, where more than 25,000 desperate Raiders fans were waiting for them.
And they had to deal with the weight of history and expectation. After a season that produced a club record winning streak, could this Cronulla team be the one that finally broke a half-century premiership drought?
We’ve now got an answer without a shadow of a doubt.
Yes they can.
Things started badly for Cronulla who lost representative back-rower Wade Graham to a head knock inside the first six minutes.
Graham’s head caught the forearm of Joey Leilua as the powerful Canberra centre charged up field.
Cronulla thought they’d opened the scoring after nine minutes when Chad Townsend strolled over, only for it to be disallowed for a Bukuya knock on in the lead up.
Instead, the Raiders opened the scoring five minutes later through Josh Hodgson.
Hodgson, who terrorised the Sharks in their win in round 22, surged inside of Capewell and did well to regain the ball after it had been jolted loose to score under the posts.
All of a sudden it was 12-0. With Cronulla attacking Canberra’s line, a stray Maloney pass bounced up into the arms of Jordan Rapana who raced 80 metres to score.
From there, Cronulla did well just to stay in the contest.
Canberra enjoyed a number of sets on Cronulla’s line but the gutsy Sharks repelled charge after charge from the Green Machine.
It had been all Canberra in the first half, but just when the rampant Raiders looked like extending their lead further, Matt Prior trampled over Jack Wighton to score under the posts one minute before half-time to cut the deficit to 12-6.
Game on.
The Raiders were to suffer a massive injury blow of their own at the start of the second half, with Hodgson carried off with what looked to be a serious ankle injury.
A Jarrod Croker penalty goal extended Canberra’s lead to 14-6 five minutes into the second half before the Sharks hit back again.
After earning a repeat set, Luke Lewis threaded a perfect grubber in behind Edrick Lee for Valentine Holmes to score out wide.
From there Cronulla enjoyed their best spell of the game. They were finally rewarded for their second half dominance with a Maloney penalty goal that leveled the score at 14-all with 13 minutes to play.
Shane Flanagan had also made a brave decision, bringing centre Gerard Beale off his bench for the final 20 minutes in place of halfback Chad Townsend.
The move forced a reshuffle, with Jack Bird moving to five-eighth and Maloney to halfback.
Cronulla hit the front for the first time with five minutes remaining after Canberra were penalised right in front of their own posts.
Ben Barba had made a half break and was tackled on the ground when Josh Papalii hit the Sharks’ fullback in the head with a swinging arm, giving Maloney the chance to add another penalty goal and give Cronulla a 16-14 lead.
The gallant Sharks held on in the dying stages to earn a week off and book themselves a grand final qualifier.
Leader Scoreboard
Cronulla Sharks 16 (Matt Prior, Valentine Holmes tries. James Maloney four goals)
defeated
Canberra Raiders 14 (Josh Hodgson, Jordan Rapana tries. Jarrod Croker three goals)
at GIO Stadium, Canberra
Crowd: 25,592
Leader man of the match: Matt Prior (Sharks)
Sharks next game: Week off, then preliminary final
