The injury-hit Cronulla Sharks produced a stunning 20-18 victory over Melbourne Storm to upset one of the Premiership favourites.
In a frantic start, the Sharks found early points. The money ball from Chad Townsend found Josh Morris in space who laid on the try for Sione Katoa.
But tries for Josh Addo-Carr and Jesse Bromwich earned the visitors the lead midway through the first half.
The Sharks built pressure well in the remaining minutes of the first half and drew level when Briton Nikora gathered in Kyle Flanagan’s grubber kick.
Cronulla built up an eight-point lead in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Flanagan’s penalty was followed up by Braden Hamlin-Uele’s first try in the NRL.
The Sharks looked like they were set for victory but a try from Ryan Papenhuyzen, with four minutes to go, made it a nervy end for the home side.
Sharks: Dugan, Gray, Xerri, Morris, Katoa, Flanagan, Townsend, Fifita, J Brailey, Prior, Nikora, Capewell, Gallen; Interchanges: B Brailey, Bukuya, Williams, Hamlin-Uele
Tries: Katoa, Nikora, Hamlin-Uele; Goals: Flanagan 4
Storm: Hughes, Vunivalu, Chambers, Seve, Addo-Carr, Munster, Croft, J Bromwich, Smith, Welch, F Kaufusi, K Bromwich, Finucane; Interchanges: Asofa-Solomona, Kamikamica, Papenhuyzen, P Kaufusi
Tries: Addo-Carr, J Bromwich, Papenhuyzen; Goals: Smith 3
Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
