The Sharks loss to the Storm ended what has been an impressive season from Craig Fitzgibbon’s side, going down 22-14 at AAMI Park in a tight affair.
Cronulla’s finals run was impressive, but they were bested by a team many tipped in pre-season to win the premiership, such is their star-studded spine.
Regardless, the Sharks’ finals hoodoo could be considered to have vanished and next season they will be desperate to go one game better, while a host of stars can hold their heads high after solid performances to close out the year.
Read below for foxsports.com.au’s player ratings after their preliminary finals loss to the Storm!
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Nicho Hynes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Billy Burns.Source: FOX SPORTS
1. William Kennedy — 6
Kennedy made his mark with some smart playmaking work to find his winger for the first Cronulla try of the evening. The Sharks No.1 was consistent at the back under the high ball and his errors were few and far between.
2. Sione Katoa — 8
Katoa scored the first try of the evening, timing his run onto a Kennedy pass and then scored his second despite a strong effort from Xavier Coates to stop him from getting to the line to complete an impressive first half. In the second, he consistently poked his nose through Melbourne’s defence to put together a complete performance, to go with 136 running metres and three tackle busts.
3. Jesse Ramien — 5
Delivered the final pass for Katoa’s second try, but largely failed to make an impact in the first 40. Equally, it was an uneventful second half for Ramien, who carried the ball well but went unnoticed.
4. KL Iro — 6
Iro was unusually quiet on the left edge in attack, but his back-field carries were strong as has become the standard set by the Cook Islands international, tallying 170 running metres. Iro also scored on the buzzer with a try that didn’t have an effect on the end result.
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo — 5
As usual, Mulitalo was in and among the banter and his carries to begin sets were solid. But overall, it was a flat performance from one of the NRL’s star wingers.
6. Braydon Trindall — 7
Trindall showed his desire to block a Storm try with a “great save” according to Greg Alexander, batting the ball out after a Nick Meaney offload infield. His defensive efforts continued and his kicking game was also solid, with 420 kicking metres. All effort from Trindall in a losing side.
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7. Nicho Hynes — 5
Hynes was rocked by an ugly shot in the 10th minute, but got to his feet and later put Billy Burns through a hole, which resulted in Cronulla’s second try. Overall, the Sharks’ star No.7 was largely quiet and was shut down on multiple occasions by the rushing Storm defence. “I thought he was okay, okay is not bad, but when you play a final against Melbourne you need to be better than okay,” Cooper Cronk said of Hynes’ performance.
8. Addin Fonua-Blake — 5.5
“Melbourne have done a great job on him so far,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane said of Fonua-Blake’s first stint in the middle, with the marquee enforcer kept largely quiet. In the second half, he improved but lost the front row battle against Stefano Utoikamanu.
9. Blayke Brailey — 7
Michael Ennis revealed Blayke Brailey had suffered an ankle niggle in warm-ups, but that didn’t stop the talented hooker from scheming in behind the ruck. Brailey also made a game high 48 tackles and got through a mountain of work.
10. Toby Rudolf — 5.5
Rudolf was rocked by a Josh King tackle off a kick-off but was given the green light to remain on the field in the first half. However, moments later he left the field for a HIA which he eventually passed and the remainder of his performance was full of effort, but he was a victim of a forward pack being dominated.
11. Billy Burns — 7
Burns had a team-high 19 tackles in the first half and his defensive efforts shone bright, and then he broke the line to spark Katoa’s second try of the evening. An impressive first half led to an early HIA in the second which halted his momentum, alongside his team.
12. Teig Wilton — 5.5
A Wilton missed tackle led to Hughes’ crucial try in the 16th minute, biting when the star halfback threw a big dummy. Across the 80 minutes, Wilton failed to have a huge impact but did make 36, but with seven misses.
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13. Jesse Colquhoun — 8
Colquhoun’s strong early carries laid a platform for the Sharks and he led the way in the middle of the park in an impressive display. Overall, every time Cronulla’s No.13 carried the ball he made a dent and he was all effort in defence. In a losing side, Colquhoun can hold his head high.
14. Briton Nikora — 5
Nikora didn’t take the field until the second half, but came desperately close to scoring after a trademark run with 22 minutes left in the contest. 73 running metres and 11 tackles across his short stint.
15. Siosifa Talakai — 6
Entered the action late in the first half and went on to make 25 tackles, holding his own the middle of the park with a solid display. All effort from the Sharks super sub.
16. Oregon Kaufusi — 4
Entered the field to close out the first half but failed a HIA in the second 40 minutes which ended his night prematurely, having made seven tackles with three misses.
17. Braden Hamlin-Uele — 5
Came on in the first half after Rudolf left the field with a HIA, making 25 tackles to go with 78 running metres. Did his job in the middle of the park.