Sharks Stadium: You can only hope Will Kennedy can strike a new deal with Cronulla sooner than later so one of the game’s best backlines can continue to do their thing.
Kennedy finished an excellent long-range try and had a hand in another 100m effort as Cronulla ran riot in the first half to defeat South Sydney 27-12.
The on-field chemistry between Kennedy, winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, centre Kayal Iro and even five-eighth Braydon Trindall is a joy to watch.
Yet Kennedy, now 27, remains the only player without a deal beyond this season.
Winger Sam Stonestreet is also unsigned, but Kennedy has become part of the sky blue, white and black fabric for so long.
He was the best player on the park in round two against the Cowboys, and everywhere on a beautiful March afternoon in the Shire in front of 14,320 fans. Trindall and Teig Wilton were the only two who arguably played better against the Bunnies.
Will Kennedy is tackled during his team’s victory over the Rabbitohs.Credit: Getty Images
There are few rival clubs screaming out for an NRL fullback, but Kennedy is also entitled to hold out for a decent bump on his last deal.
He told this masthead earlier this month: “If something came up I’d love to take it. Nobody wants to leave here because it’s so good.”
Cronulla have been September regulars since coach Craig Fitzgibbon took charge, but lack that X-factor – a genuine circuit-breaker – who can deliver them to the promised land. Kennedy is not that player, but he complements the back five so well.
Kennedy finished a try he started on the 20m line when he drifted across field and put Mulitalo into space. Mulitalo threw the ball to Iro who was mowed down by Souths’ fullback Jye Gray, but flung it back infield before the ball somehow ended back in the hands of Kennedy to score.
It was just as good as the 100m try they scored midway through the first half when Mulitalo casually scooped up a Cody Walker kick in his own in-goal, shrugged off a tackle, then passed to Kennedy who then send Iro on his way.
Trindall booted two 40-20s and a late field-goal, Wilton was relentless in defence, while the only concern was Braden Hamlin-Uele who hobbled off with a knee injury with half an hour remaining.
Souths were always going to struggle after half-time when they trailed 20-0.
They were lucky to only trail by that much after Sifa Talakai planted the ball down short of the line, and Stonestreet struggled to complete what would have been a spectacular aerial effort in the right corner.
Gray produced an inspirational passage when he tackled Iro, bounced back to his feet, then tried to tackle Kennedy before he scored. He deserved a 12 out of 10 for effort.
But Gray was placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on Talakai and can only hope the match review committee sees nothing in it. He was one of three men in the tackle, and while his body weight landed on the left leg of Talakai, he always seemed in control of what he was doing.
With Latrell Mitchell still a couple of weeks away from returning from a hamstring injury, a potential suspension for Gray will leave Souths searching for a No.1 ahead of Thursday’s clash with premiers Penrith.
Keaon Koloamatangi was one of Souths’ best, while Tallis Duncan will have sleepless nights after standing toe to toe with an angry Addin Fonua-Blake.
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