Sharks fall a man short

Behind at the break referee Ben Cummins sent half-back Chad Townsend from the field for a hit on Knights fullback Kayln Ponga, the referee saying the tackle was high, but it was an old school shoulder charge nonetheless.

Cronulla coach John Morris apologised to Sharks fans after a long night of ill-discipline saw Townsend marched, three other players put on report and their finals run placed in jeopardy by a hammering from Newcastle.

After an ordinary first half, the Sharks were attempting to make an impression, when Townsend went off, leaving the Cronulla side a man short for more than 30 minutes of the game.

Struggling to keep pace with their opposition the Knights kept attacking and made the Sharks pay for any defensive errors.

The Sharks did knuckle down and battled away and Connor Tracey, on the field for half Trindall, brushed aside the defence to score his team's second try giving them some hope at 22-10 behind and with 25 minutes remaining.

The Sharks even kicked out on the full and Morris said "We're still in the eight, but certainly after games like that we don't deserve to be. Blokes have got to have a real good hard look at themselves."

Overall it was a 'Knightmare' for Cronulla, with skipper Wade Graham battered and leaving the field before full time. Other players are facing match review analysis, with Graham and Toby Rudolf put on report in the first half, Braden Hamlin-Uele in the second and Townsend sent from the field and facing the match review and Tuesday's judiciary.

Missing from the Sharks big game against Newcastle due to a chest injury was winger Sione Katoa who is second on the competition's try-scorers list with 14 four-pointers so far this year.

His improved performance has been rewarded, with the 23-year-old Katoa signing a new three-year contract that will see him remain at the Cronulla club until at least the end of the 2023 season.

The Katoa signing comes after Sharks impact forward Toby Rudolf decided his immediate playing future by signing a contract extension with the Cronulla club.

Rudolph's family and remaining in Sydney was in his decision to re-sign with the Sharks, and he rejected an offer from a rival NRL club to remain in the Shire, with coach Morris thrilled to have the services of the outstanding young forward for the 2021 season.

"Toby's signing is amazing news for the club and no doubt will be very well received by our members and fans," Morris said.

John Morris also said Katoa and Rudolf had joined Ronaldo Mulitalo, William Kennedy, Teig Wilton, Royce Hunt and Siosifa Talakai as players to have recently committed to the Cronulla club for 2021 and beyond as the Sharks continue to build their exciting young squad.

Cronulla's Friday night collapse gives the Warriors finals fairytale a chance if they upset Parramatta on Sunday.

This Sharks squad now has a long week to think about their next match which will be against the New Zealand Warriors at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday in another game both sides have to win to keep a safe spot in the eight.