Sebastian Kris was sent off for the ugliest of lifting tackles gone wrong, and while it wasn’t always pretty, Cronulla have secured a hard fought 24-6 win and a home final off the back of it.
PointsBet Stadium erupted, and ex-Sharks coach Ricky Stuart found seemingly every eyeball on him, when Kris dumped Sione Katoa on his head in the 59th minute and a tense game was turned the same way.
With Cronulla hanging onto a tight 10-6 lead but playing nowhere near their best, a probing crossfield kick was sent Katoa’s way.
He was more than up to the examination, flying high with a clutch take. Kris then got his tackle attempt all wrong. And had Katoa not managed to break his own fall with a hand on the turf first, it could have been a lot worse.
Referee Grant Atkins didn’t hesitate in sending Kris on his way. And against a 12-man defensive line, the Sharks duly clicked into gear.
Nicho Hynes returned from a quad strain and after a few first-half rocks, was back churning out diamonds after half-time. His grubber was fumbled by Jordan Rapana and pounced on by halves partner Braydon Trindall.
Sebastian Kris was sent off in Canberra’s loss to Cronulla.Credit: Getty
Ronaldo Mulitalo scooted across three minutes later, and just like that, the finals race was sorted.
Cronulla will be back on their own turf next week playing host to the Roosters. Canberra will head up the highway to face the high-flying Knights.
But throughout a first half dominated by the boot of Jamal Fogarty, one last twist in an NRL season loomed, not to mention a 10th straight Raiders triumph over the Sharks.
Where Hynes was failing to send a kick for touch anywhere near the sideline and Cronulla made more than their fair share of errors, Canberra played with rare composure.
Sione Katoa recovered from the horror tackle to score the last of Cronulla’s five tries.Credit: Getty
Fogarty finished the first stanza with almost 600 kicking metres. Connor Tracey was regularly caught out of position as the swirling breezes of the Shire played havoc – a tale of the tape for Rapana’s opening try.
Playing with a bit of everything in his game in his 200th NRL outing, Rapana claimed a second try before the break after out-leaping Tracey again, only for replays to show a bobble at the line. Tracey fared better with ball in hand, linking with Hynes and Ramien for their only points of the half when Cronulla came knocking down the right edge.
And even before the Sharks enjoyed a one-man advantage, Hynes was warming to his task. He was on the ball from the outset.
And midway through the second half, the Dally M medallist was desperately diving as Kris tore down the sideline, doing just enough to force him into touch and deny a try.
When Kris went, so did the Raiders. It’s as simple as that when a contest so close is turned so dramatically. And after landing on his head but emerging unscathed, Katoa finished with a try for his troubles too.
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