CRONULLA SHARKS 50 GOLD COAST TITANS 10
CALLUM WALKER, Ocean Protect Stadium, Saturday

NICHO HYNES registered 22 points as Cronulla wiped the floor with a dismal Gold Coast.

The writing was on the wall in the second minute when Will Kennedy dotted down, before further efforts from Briton Nikora, Jessie Ramien, a double from Braydon Trindall and a Hynes four-pointer just before half-time left the Sharks with a 34-0 lead at the break.

There was no getting away from the fact that Cronulla had been at their devastating best in the opening 40 minutes, and that ascendancy continued immediately following the resumption with Ramien grabbing his second after barging his way over.

The Titans did finally get on the board moments later through Sam Verrills, with Sialetili Faeamani making it 40-10 five minutes later on his debut.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors with the Sharks turning the screw once more with time running out.

A failed short drop-out landed in the hands of Sione Katoa, who was able to manoeuvre his way around weak tackling before Hynes twisted and turned out of more paper-thin defence to round off the scoring and bring up the 50 points.

SHARKS: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 KL Iro, 5 Sam Stonestreet, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Nicho Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Tom Hazelton, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Billy Burns, 13 Jesse Colquhoun. Subs: 14 Siosifa Talakai, 15 Toby Rudolf, 16 Oregon Kaufusi, 17 Braden Uele, 18 Hohepa Puru (not used), 19 Chris Vea’ila (not used)

Tries: Kennedy (2), Nikora (10), Ramien (20, 43), Trindall (22, 30), Hynes (39, 77), Katoa (71); Goals: Hynes 7/9

TITANS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Sialetili Faeamani, 3 Jojo Fifita, 4 Max Feagai, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 AJ Brimson, 7 Lachlan Ilias, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Sam Verrills, 10 Tino Fa’suamaleaui, 11 Arama Hau, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Chris Randall. Subs: 14 Kurtis Morrin, 15 Tukimihia Simpkins, 16 Klese Haas, 17 Cooper Bai, 18 Luke Sommerton (not used), 19 Zane Harrison (not used)

Tries: Verrills (49), Faeamani (54); Goals: Ilias 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 16-0, 22-0, 28-0, 34-0; 40-0, 40-6, 40-10, 44-10, 50-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Sharks: Nicho Hynes; Titans: Beau Fermor

Penalty count: 5-8; Half-time: 34-0; Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski; Attendance: 11,548