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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Dolphins leader Tom Gilbert has issued a dejected apology to the club\u2019s fans, after his side\u2019s shambolic display in the face of a Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes Cronulla masterclass at their spiritual home turf in Redcliffe.<\/p>\n For the first time in their short history, the Dolphins failed to score a point in the 66-0 drubbing, which has quickly turned their narrative from genuine NRL premiership contenders after eight-straight wins to one of desperate soul-searching.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are sorry to our fans, especially our Redcliffe fans. We will bounce back, but we have to address a few things in the short term,\u201d Gilbert said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just embarrassed for that performance now, and we apologise to our fans for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Hynes set a Sharks record for most individual points in a game (30) with two tries and 11 goals, while he laid on three try assists in a second half demolition job. His halves partner Trindall celebrated his 27th birthday by having his fingerprints over everything in the opening stanza.<\/p>\n While the Sharks were denied two tries early through some strong Dolphins defence, Trindall did not panic \u2013 regularly kicking to corners to slowly but surely build pressure.<\/p>\n The Dolphins\u2019 decision not to take the two points on a close range penalty came back to haunt them after Thomas Flegler was found to have lost possession attempting to score, and after Cronulla charged back down field, Oregon Kaufusi showcased his strength to open the scoring.<\/p>\n It was from that moment Trindall went to work \u2013 his pinpoint grubber brilliantly chased by KL Iro to extend their lead.<\/p>\n On the Sharks\u2019 very next set, an exceptional kick chase on the Trindall bomb drove Jamayne Isaako into touch from more than 10 metres in field. His decision to then run the ball on the last tackle four minutes later also reaped rewards for Sione Katoa after Will Kennedy\u2019s delicate kick of his own.<\/p>\n Related Article But for all the tricks Trindall had pulled out, his best was still to come \u2013 a spiralling Harbour Bridge pass for Ronaldo Mulitalo to cross untouched silencing the Redcliffe crowd and make the procession four tries in just 15 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just a special talent and a special player, I don\u2019t think he realises what\u2019s possible either,\u201d Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said of Trindall.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes your biggest strengths are your biggest weaknesses, and Tricky\u2019s talent is just so strong \u2013 he can kick, play and can do it all \u2013 but he\u2019s starting to identify that\u2019s not a gift, you just can\u2019t do it some weeks and not others.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s doing it every week, and that makes the Sharks a stronger team.\u201d<\/p>\n By the second half, Hynes took over.<\/p>\n \u201cHe deserves credit because he doesn\u2019t get enough in my opinion. Statistically speaking, over the last five years, that guy\u2019s in the top few halves in the comp,\u201d Fitzgibbon said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe narrative outweighs what he actually does, and I\u2019m most pleased him and \u2018Tricky\u2019 [Trindall] are building together.\u201d<\/p>\n In contrast, when the Dolphins did have opportunities, they barely troubled the Sharks defence, having been lauded premiership contenders until what was an insipid Saturday performance.<\/p>\n Aside from Flegler\u2019s mistake, and Tevita Naufahu being dragged into touch late in the opening stanza, any chance they got in the Cronulla red zone was easily diffused, and shone a harsh light on what they are missing without halfback Isaiay Katoa.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old will miss at least another two weeks after suffering a fractured arm against the Warriors in round 17, with his replacement Brad Schneider unable to pose as many questions or link up with halves partner Kodi Nikorima as effectively.<\/p>\n Katoa\u2019s ability to dig deep into the defensive line has been pivotal in igniting Nikorima and unleashing his strike weapons \u2013 spearheaded by Herbie Farnworth. The young No.7 leads the competition for line break involvements (20) and sits in the NRL\u2019s top five for line engagements (81).<\/p>\n But without him, the Dolphins rarely caused trouble \u2013 Farnworth limited to just 28 running metres from four carries in the first half.<\/p>\n \u201cIsaiya couldn\u2019t help us tonight,\u201d coach Kristian Woolf said.<\/p>\n Woolf rested State of Origin superstars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo, while Blues debutant Jack Bostock was unavailable after suffering concussion on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n Max Plath and Flegler both backed up, but were unable to ignite a forward pack collective in which each member of the pack failed to surpass 70 metres for the afternoon.<\/p>\n Plath limped off early in the second half with an ankle injury, and was forced to watch the Sharks break away after back-to-back defensive sets on their line as he did.<\/p>\n Cronulla scored from that opportunity, with Hynes putting Iro over for his second try. From their next set, some ad lib play from Trindall and Hynes put Jesse Ramien over, before Hynes cleaned up a dropped Trindall bomb to score himself and Katoa picked up his second.<\/p>\n Related Article A simple short pass from Hynes back on the inside for Tom Hazelton to bring up the half-century was symbolic of how far the Dolphins faded \u2013 with no supporting defenders coming in a lazy display. Equally flimsy tackle attempts allowed Hynes to stroll through, with a Hazelton break with a minute remaining creating the chance for Ramien to claim a brace.<\/p>\n The result ensures Kayo Stadium has been an unhappy hunting ground for the Dolphins in 2026 \u2013 having lost 52-18 against Manly earlier in the season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was embarrassing last time, and it\u2019s probably more embarrassing now. We had a real emphasis on making sure those performances don\u2019t happen again, let alone here,\u201d Gilbert said.<\/p>\n But it was across the board the Dolphins struggled to make an impact \u2013 completing just 14 of 22 sets in the first half, a figure which only marginally improved to 69 per cent for the match.<\/p>\n The result follows last week\u2019s 13-12 defeat to Newcastle which ended an eight-game winning run, with one of the game\u2019s most lethal attacking units suddenly looking far from it since Katoa was sidelined. It marked the first time in their history they had been kept scoreless, with Trindall producing two try-savers on a runaway Isaako.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Nicho](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e01f2ed35f3de2482ecfc75f1dae203cd2951d72.jpeg\")
Nicho Hynes set a Sharks record for most points scored in a game.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Braydon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c93a403d5ca1361236eb0fe6753df91c132e7762.jpeg\")
Braydon Trindall was exceptional, especially in the first half.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Hamiso](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783758262_421_17bd1f7ed43edf1bff22fd0b09e0b237ebf7e44edc73e7c0471d5dc71b40719e.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Nicho](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d003cb9c4e1d39de30e2fe74614e889e79bb7b20.jpeg\")
Nicho Hynes scored 30 of his side\u2019s 66 unanswered points.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Thomas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8008685aff2e21e33e3b65c7a55d3bb929f03c0f.jpeg\")
Thomas Flegler backed up for the Dolphins after featuring in Queensland\u2019s State of Origin defeat.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Reece](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7f5929671c06389f7e71bfd5ab629b323634ddb7.jpeg\")
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