Sharks defeat Warriors after Kennedy and Trindall dominate
Updated ,first published
There are no hairs between them and they create a very slightly exaggerated effect. But Cronulla’s largely unheralded playmakers Will Kennedy and Braydon Trindall led another scoring attack in the 36-22 victory over the Warriors.
The Kiwi side are reeling from Luke Metcalf’s recent hamstring injury, while injuries to Jesse Ramien (MCL) and Tom Hazleton (ankle) will take some of the shine off the Sharks’ win and Trindall’s fine early-season form.
Both Ramien and Hazleton will be sent for scans, while Braden Hamlin-Uele also failed the reserve grade HIA on Saturday, ruling him out as a substitute for next Saturday’s clash against the Roosters in Perth should Hazleton be sidelined.
Mawene Hiroti looks set to replace Ramien at the back after Cronulla turned down the Titans’ approach to release him this season.
For the visitors, a tough day at the office for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad – the Sharks’ playmakers found the center shorthanded on more than one occasion – ended early with a neck issue, but coach Andrew Webster said Metcalf’s initial thoughts were that his injury was not as bad as the hamstring issues he had previously suffered.
Injuries aside, the Sharks also thrived as Trindall and Kennedy ripped the Warriors to pieces on more than one occasion at Shark Park, targeting the visitors’ right-side defense and coming up trumps.
It was impossible to miss Kennedy’s shaved putter as he passed the Warriors twice in four minutes in the afternoon sun, scoring the first goal when Trindall kept the defensive line upright and the second on a well-executed attacking play.
The full-back was forced to cut a one-year contract to stay in Cronulla colors this season and is one of more than a dozen freshmen out of contract at the Sharks.
You wouldn’t know that looking at the start of the season and he told reporters on Sunday he was open to moving on if a rival club eclipsed Cronulla with a bid for 2027 and beyond.
“I’m going to do what’s best for my family. I had a newborn, so it was right for me to stay here for another year,” Kennedy said of his current one-year contract.
“I want to continue playing football. If I stay here, I wish you happy days. I love this club. But if I have to do what is best for my family, I have to do it.”
Trindall highlighted the game as one of his half-forms after he and Nicho Hynes repeatedly distorted the Warriors defense.
Given the Sharks’ dominance and willingness to play wide despite the pre-game drizzle, a 24-10 halftime lead was well deserved.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s hat trick kept the Warriors within reach in the first four; especially a 90-yard tackle that would have led to another Sharks try had the experienced winger not caught it.
But the Sharks were never really worried by an unspectacular Warriors team, with KL Iro also pushing his way onto the scoresheet and Billy Burns attacking Hynes’ short ball.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon was angered by the 10-1 penalty count against his side, but was still pleased with Cronulla’s ability to withstand early setbacks and get regular whistles.
“The most pleasing thing was everything that went against us in the run of the game, I didn’t think we were shying away, we just kept going,” Fitzgibbon said.
“We didn’t win [a penalty count] this year, but we need to look at why this keeps happening… I’m not sure what’s going on there. They were probably penalties, they might have been fair. But if we get the upper hand, we can get more than just penalties in the match.”
Dan Walsh is sports correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
