Cronulla Sharks Advance to Preliminary Final After Dominating Canberra Raiders 32-12
Canberra, ACT - The Cronulla Sharks secured a place in the preliminary final with a commanding 32-12 victory over the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Saturday. The win marks a meaningful step in the Sharks’ premiership campaign, while simultaneously ending the raiders’ season in a disappointing fashion.
The Sharks’ decisive performance establishes them as a genuine contender for the NRL premiership. Canberra, despite a vocal home crowd and early efforts, were unable to contain a relentless Cronulla side. The victory sets up a crucial preliminary final match for the Sharks, with their opponent to be determined following next weekend’s qualifying finals.
Savelio Tamale opened the scoring for the Green Machine early in the second half, briefly igniting hope for a Canberra comeback. However, the Sharks quickly regained control, with Billy Burns capitalizing on soft defense from zac Hosking and Fogarty to extend their lead. A subsequent high tackle by Hosking on Blayke Brailey further compounded the Raiders’ woes, adding penalty points to the Sharks’ advantage. KL Iro then cemented the win, capitalizing on an awkward bounce from a Trindall bomb.
Prop Addin Fonua-Blake delivered a standout performance for the Sharks, while Mulitalo also impressed. A concerning incident occurred during the match when Tom Hazelton was knocked unconscious following a head clash with Tom Starling. While the tackle itself was deemed legal,Hazelton was removed from the field but was able to walk unaided.
The atmosphere at GIO Stadium was electric, fueled by a passionate raiders fanbase, including club legend Bradley Clyde sounding the Viking horn. A young fan also captured attention during halftime, playfully completing a ‘shoey’ with a can of sprite when featured on the stadium’s big screen.
The match was overseen by referee Grant Atkins, who has drawn praise for his clear communication and composed decision-making, positioning him as a potential candidate to officiate the grand final.
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