Cautious start as rain returns in Sharks-Dragons showdown

Joyous Sharks duo Nicho Hynes and Ronaldo Mulitalo.Credit: Getty

The Dragons were much better than their effort against the Roosters a round earlier, but in the end they just weren’t good enough to beat this impressive Sharks side. Cronulla weren’t great but they did enough. They have a tough stretch of games on the way, but for now they’re loving life.

The Dragons officially need a miracle. After Nicho Hynes kicked a penalty goal, the Sharks lead by 10 with three minutes remaining. It’s not officially over - that’s coming soon. Sharks lead 20-10 after 77 minutes.

The Dragons need to start trying a few things. They trail by eight and have as few as five more sets of six to make something happen. Another error in possession - this time it was Jack Bird - makes things even harder. Sharks lead 18-10 after 70 minutes

Tom Hazelton barges his way over and all of a sudden the Sharks have a decisive eight-point lead. The cult hero out that way now has four tries from his last eight games. In other news, Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan is on report for a tripping offence in the lead-up to that try. Sharks lead 18-10 after 66 minutes.

Ryan Papenhuyzen will “likely” have to undergo surgery on a fibula fracture that he sustained in the Storm’s 22-20 win over the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

Papenhuyzen’s leg was caught under Titans fullback AJ Brimson while attempting a tackle late in the first half. After the break, the 25-year-old emerged in a moon boot and was on crutches. Before the injury, he’d set up two tries and scored one.