Green Machine’s spluttering start continues with loss to Sharks, while Dragons hit rock bottom
Updated ,first published
Canberra and Cronulla produced a high-quality semi-final at GIO Stadium last year but both teams will struggle to do so again this season due to their early form.
Even though this year’s competition is only four weeks old, many expected to see much more from the Raiders and Sharks.
That probably explained why respective coaches Craig Fitzgibbon and Ricky Stuart were remarkably calm after the Sharks’ 34-22 win at GIO Stadium on Sunday.
Fitzgibbon, who signed a two-year extension during the week that will keep him in charge of Cronulla until the end of 2029, was relieved that his team could return home with their second win of the season.
“I was happy to come down and put in a much improved performance,” Fitzgibbon said when asked if the win capped off a great week for him personally.
“We haven’t been up for the last few weeks.
“The most important thing was the team reconnected. We were a bit disorganized and had some things to work on, but that was against a good side; they were a handful for sure – but I’m delighted.”
Cronulla were given a reality check as they were defeated by Penrith in the second round, then lost at home to the Dolphins. They hadn’t lost three straight games since mid-2023.
Braydon Trindall chipped in three tries, Addin Uzmana-Blake’s performance in both halves was top notch, while Teig Wilton endured a mountain of work in his second game back from a shoulder injury.
Stuart said his team, which won its second title last year but achieved only one win in 2026, cannot win another match until it stops shooting itself in the foot.
They were always looking for points in the dry deck they hadn’t played all year, but Canberra were almost too keen and that led to errors.
“Them [Cronulla] “We’re a good football team, I have a good football team, but our biggest problem is self-destruction,” Stuart said.
“This has happened in three of our last four games and we don’t even give ourselves a chance to test ourselves against the opposition.
“We were dealing with it, we talked about it again after the game and until we figured it out [address it]We will not win a football match.
There is too much talent on both rosters to send the red pen to either team. However, concerned fans hope to see better performances in the coming weeks.
Cronulla hosts the Warriors next Sunday, while Canberra head to Newcastle; What seemed easy on paper a few weeks ago is no longer so after their shock win over Canterbury.
Cronulla got off to an excellent start, taking an early 12-0 lead, while Corey Horsburgh was in the sin bin for a professional foul. Stuart had no issue with the decision and said Horsburgh put his team-mates under pressure.
Teig Wilton walked towards it, then KL Iro did the same. Everything was very easy.
Canberra could barely see the ball, but in one of the first moments they had a chance to attack, they scored through Kaeo Weekes, who, as always, attacked low down the pitch and then pressed for support inside Xavier Savage.
Sharks winger Sione Katoa thought he had given the visitors the upper hand by slotting the ball into the right corner just before half-time.
However, replays showed Katoa had brought his right foot into contact. There would be millimeters in it.
Katoa then pounced on a Savelio Tamale tackle from the other end of the field, eliminating the Raiders’ chance to equalize.
The game was all but over when Nicho Hynes homered, then Noah Martin knocked the ball back and put Jesse Colquhoun aside. He missed the conversion which the home side enjoyed, but they were not good enough to challenge.
Fifita clone stars as Dragons play against worst losing streak
Gold Coast have found their new David Fifita after second rower Arama Hau turned hero in a 22-14 win over St George Illawarra.
New Titans coach Josh Hannay celebrated his first win of the season after Hau’s two-try display; the latter put the home side ahead for the first time on Sunday night with a stunning 50-yard strike in the 74th minute.
The last-place and winless Dragons are now on par with their worst losing streak in their history. It was their eighth consecutive defeat dating back to last year, equaling their defeat in 2021.
In another blow, there were concerns for St George Illawarra five-eighth Kyle Flanagan, who collided with teammate Hayden Buchanan in the 61st minute as he went to tackle Gold Coast debutant hooker Oliver Pascoe.
The Red V’s point guard lay motionless on the ground for minutes, but luckily he was moving his arms as he was placed in a paramedic and taken off the field.
Flanagan, who wore a neck brace, was taken to hospital by ambulance immediately after the match.
Both sides were weak in attack and looked good and really looked like they were going to challenge each other for the wooden spoon.
from AAP
