ROUND-UP
NICHO HYNES responded to his Origin snub by orchestrating CRONULLA SHARKS' convincing win over the WESTS TIGERS.
The silky halfback set up three tries, deadly winger Sione Katoa claimed a hattrick and bustling centre Siosifa Talakai enjoyed a double as the Sharks shored up their place in the top four.
The Tigers did well to bounce back from their 74-0 horror show to North Queensland Cowboys last Saturday to match the Sharks 12-12 at half-time, handing debuts to journeyman stand-off Will Smith and rookie Aitasi James.
But Craig Fitzgibbon’s men laid on five unanswered tries in the second half to collect the two points.
Hynes got the Sharks on the board with an early penalty goal, before Katoa crawled over and Talakai crashed through. A lovely Smith ball put Tommy Talau in space to score and Shawn Blore grabbed his first NRL try to get Wests level at the break.
The dangerous Hynes-Will Kennedy combination released Katoa again, then the Bunker denied Talau’s reply.