GOLD COAST TITANS 22 CRONULLA SHARKS 30
TOM SMITH, Cbus Super Stadium, Sunday

ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE spearheaded Cronulla’s second-half comeback as the Sharks overpowered the Titans to stay in the top-four hunt.

Wingers Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo both completed braces late to ensure Craig Fitzgibbon’s men snapped a costly two-game losing streak.

Niwhai Puru deputised for regular stand-off Braydon Trindall (shoulder dislocation), while halves partner Nicho Hynes and fullback Will Kennedy assisted two tries apiece.

The result leaves Cronulla just one win behind the fourth-placed Dolphins with two rounds remaining.

Mulitalo found the left corner for the first points on eight minutes, before Jojo Fifita replied up the other end.

Kennedy put Katoa into the other corner, although the Titans dominated the rest of the half.

First Keano Kini sent AJ Brimson crashing over, then Phillip Sami broke the Gold Coast’s all-time try-scoring record with his 86th in their colours.

Down 16-8 at the break and staring down the barrel of a loss that would’ve sent them tumbling even further down the top eight, the Sharks took control in the second half, with Cameron McInnes started the fightback from close range.

Hynes’ try off a Puru bomb was chalked off for offside, but there was no denying Fonua-Blake, before Katoa and Mulitalo finished their doubles.

Bodhi Sharpley’s maiden NRL try was mere consolation for the Titans, who also lost Beau Fermor to an abdominal injury.

TITANS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Jaylan De Groot, 3 Jojo Fifita, 4 AJ Brimson, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Jayden Campbell, 7 Lachlan Ilias, 10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 9 Oliver Pascoe, 15 Klese Haas, 12 Beau Fermor, 14 Kurtis Morrin, 13 Cooper Bai. Subs: 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 11 Arama Hau (not used), 16 Chris Randall, 17 Bodhi Sharpley, 18 Luke Sommerton, 19 Siale Faeamani (not used)

Tries: Fifita (16), Brimson (26), Sami (32), Sharpley (75); Goals: Campbell 3/4

SHARKS: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Mawene Hiroti, 4 KL Iro, 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6 Niwhai Puru, 7 Nicho Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Jesse Colquhoun, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Teig Wilton, 17 Thomas Hazelton. Subs: 13 Cameron McInnes, 14 Siosifa Talakai, 15 Billy Burns, 16 Oregon Kaufusi, 18 Hohepa Puru (not used), 21 Samuel Stonestreet (not used)

Tries: Mulitalo (8, 67), Katoa (22, 62), McInnes (49), Fonua-Blake (58); Goals: Hynes 3/6

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 4-4, 4-8, 10-8, 16-8; 16-14, 16-20, 16-24, 16-30, 22-30

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Titans: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui; Sharks: Addin Fonua-Blake

Penalty count: 4-3; Half-time: 16-8; Referee: Peter Gough; Attendance: 16,074