ROUND-UP
CRONULLA SHARKS’ 52-16 victory over ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS was as emphatic as it sounds, but it could have been oh so different for the Dragons.
They gained a 6-0 lead through Mikaele Ravalawa in the first minute and again led 10-6 before trailing 24-16, but five unanswered Cronulla tries in the last 35 minutes smashed St George’s hopes of taking home the two points to smithereens.
Nicho Hynes was yet again in irrepressible form, registering 20 points and he hit back for the Sharks following Ravalawa’s opener.
Tautau Moga finished well to retake the lead for the Dragons, but tries from Briton Nikora, Jesse Ramien and a rampaging effort from Tom Hazelton handed Cronulla a 24-10 half-time lead.
Credit to St George, they hit back once more after the break through a wonderful Tyrell Sloan effort, but that was as good as it got for them.
First, Ronaldo Mulitalo crossed in customary fashion on 55 minutes before Will Kennedy streaked away to extend Cronulla’s lead to 34-16.
The floodgates began to open when Siosifa Talakai barged over as Mulitalo and Nikora rounded off the scoring with doubles apiece.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS steamrolled NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS in the wet to reverse their form slump without Latrell Mitchell.
The Rabbitohs had lost four of their last five minus their talisman, but veteran winger Alex Johnston’s double — the 36th of his career — guided them to a boil-over against the in-form New Zealanders.