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Cronulla have dealt Canterbury a finals eve defeat, with Blayke Brailey getting on the scoresheet. (Mark Evans\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n Cronulla have dealt Canterbury a finals eve defeat, with Blayke Brailey getting on the scoresheet. (Mark Evans\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
Canterbury have been dealt two brutal backline blows on the eve of the finals, losing Bronson Xerri and Marcelo Montoya to injuries in a 24-6 defeat to Cronulla.<\/p>\n
With nothing to gain on the ladder, Canterbury endured a nightmare at Accor Stadium in a near worst-case scenario for the club.<\/p>\n
Xerri is already out of Friday night’s qualifying final against Melbourne, after the centre knocked himself out early in the loss trying to tackle Sione Katoa.<\/p>\n
His left-edge partner Marceo Montoya then limped off in the final moments with an ankle injury, leaving him in serious doubt for the AAMI Park clash.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs are also without winger Jacob Kiraz, who suffered a foot sprain last week and is expected to miss the start of the finals.<\/p>\n
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\n Xerri was one of two key injury blows for the Bulldogs in their loss to Cronulla. (Mark Evans\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
Cronulla, meanwhile, got through the night unscathed, ahead of what looms as blockbuster elimination final against the Sydney Roosters next week.<\/p>\n
In a game that was in theory a finals warm up for both sides, it was the Sharks who looked the most impressive at the right time of the season.<\/p>\n
They completed at 95 per cent, had their defence hold firm and will now enter the finals off three straight wins.<\/p>\n
Playing with their first-choice back five for the first time this season, Cronulla’s attack looked slick with halfback Nicho Hynes on song in a dominant 18-0 first half.<\/p>\n
Hynes laid on the first try with a short ball for Billy Burns, before going short-side and hitting Sione Katoa on the chest in the lead up to another.<\/p>\n
Daniel Atkinson also proved his worth as a back-up half, putting Ronaldo Mulitalo into space and looming in support to finish a second-half try.<\/p>\n
Crucially, Craig Fitzgibbon’s men are still expected to welcome five-eighth Braydon Trindall back next week, giving them close to their strongest side on paper.<\/p>\n
Cronulla regularly targeted Canterbury’s left in the first half, with Xerri off and Viliame Kikau also briefly sidelined to pass a concussion check.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matt Burton was initially moved to centre with Bailey Hayward moving to five-eighth, before Burton was moved back to No.6 after the break.<\/p>\n
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\n Nicho Hynes (left) shone in attack and defence for the Sharks. (Mark Evans\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
And while the Bulldogs held out Cronulla’s early attacking waves, there were uncharacteristic errors, including a Connor Tracey drop that gifted a Sharks try.<\/p>\n
Equally concerning will be the fact Canterbury’s only try came out of structure, when Enari Tuala picked off a Hynes kick and went 98 metres to score.<\/p>\n
Front-runners for the first half of the season, the Bulldogs will head to Melbourne next week finishing third with just one win from their last four games.<\/p>\n
Blake Wilson and Jethro Romalama could both loom as options for Canterbury against the Storm, who will also be without star duo Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen.<\/p>\n