The Cronulla Sharks have completed one more week on prime of the NRL ladder after a 20-10 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
But it surely was removed from the convincing domination the Sharks would have been hoping for, however that was largely taken out of their arms.
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With Sydney swamped by rain over the weekend, Cronulla was the toughest hit with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting 69mm of rain fell within the space to 9am this morning.
And it was clear simply how a lot rain had fallen with water needing to be pumped off the sphere, whereas the principle entry to the stadium precinct was virtually fully underneath water hours earlier than the match kicked off.
It noticed the membership scrambling to get the stadium able to play with The Day by day Telegraph reporting CEO Dino Mezzatesta seen at Bunnings on Sunday morning to buy strain pumps and hoses.
The Day by day Telegraph posted that “If you happen to’re heading to Shark Park this afternoon you higher pack a snorkel!”
Though the 12,000 seat stadium was offered out on Thursday, the heavy rain saved some away, though it was nonetheless a powerful 9731 followers who turned up regardless of the horrendous situations.
However they weren’t rewarded with a traditional by an means as the edges had their work lower out simply holding onto the ball.
The Dragons had 14 errors to the Sharks’ 10 however value themselves within the second half regardless of taking a 10-6 lead into the halftime break.
“We have been simply terrible,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan mentioned.
“By no means fully units, by no means received to our kick and once we did, didn’t nail them down within the corners so it was a irritating sport from our perspective. We didn’t give ourselves an opportunity due to the errors we made.
“I assumed among the errors we made and self inflicted penalties … you simply can’t try this towards a very good footy staff.”
Ben Hunt agreed that the Dragons “didn’t give ourselves an opportunity”.
Flanagan had stoked the flames of a rivalry when he spoke final week, saying it’d “been marked within the calendar for some time” and that the Sharks hadn’t gained a comp since he’d coached the aspect.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon mentioned defence had gained the sport.
“Within the again finish of that first half, the quantity of six-agains and penalties – it’s defence, defence, defence,” Fitzgibbon mentioned.
“You may maintain your gloves up for lengthy sufficient after which the dam breaks and so they rating and it will probably rock you.
“However I used to be happy with the way in which we got here out of that.
“What’s it? Spherical 9? Assessing the place we’re at … there’s a lot that may occur between now and the top of the yr however we’re fairly constant in the intervening time.”
The Sharks have a tricky run forward with matches towards the Storm in Melbourne, Roosters at Magic Spherical in Brisbane and the Panthers at dwelling over the subsequent three weeks.
