A stunning second half performance from Nicho Hynes was the difference as the Sharks overcame a half-time deficit to down the Sydney Roosters 22-12.
In the second half alone, Hynes picked up 105 running metres, made four tackle busts, two line breaks and a try assist.
“That was awesome – we have been so close in all our games and we worked really hard in that week and a half off,” he told Fox League, right as the home fans belted out Up, Up, Cronulla.
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“I’m just so proud that … we had to come from behind there, and it’s just good we got that performance done here at home. And listen to that, this is awesome.”
The win snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Roosters, and also marked the first time they had beaten their beach-side rival at home since 2016.
Trailing 12-8 at half time, the Sharks rallied to score three tries to zip in the second.
“We hadn’t won yet here at home, and we built a fortress here last year, so the fans deserve that win,” Hynes said.
“And so does Fitzy (Coach Craig Fitzgibbon). Fitzy has been working extremely hard, he’s been losing all his hair, I know he doesn’t have much but, it’s just good for that confidence.
Hynes said he spent much of the bye week reminiscing about his second-half performance against the Warriors in round five.
Despite kicking well early in the match in atrocious conditions at Shark Park, Hynes missed a conversion just shy of the hour mark, and then another penalty goal after the siren to force the match to golden point.
It was during this time confirmation came of his new deal – reportedly worth $7 million – that will see him stay in the Shire until at least the end of 2029.
“I felt like I let the boys down, the team down against the Warriors in that second half,” he said.
“My kicks weren’t good enough and I just really wanted to make it up to the boys, I’m just really proud of the efforts and can’t wait to celebrate.”
Butcher binned after ‘semi-hip drop’
Mid-way through the first half, Roosters’ second-rower Nat Butcher became the latest to be sent to the sin-bin for a hip drop tackle, on Briton Nikora.
Butcher was the second man into the tackle, and wrapped himself around Nikora’s waist, before dropping to the ground.
“That’s a semi-hip drop,” Steve Roach said in commentary for Fox Sports.
Referee Grant Atkins agreed, and sent him to the bin.
Later, Brandon Smith scored his second try in Roosters colours, when the Steeden in his hands just grazed the chalk as he reached out.
Early in the second half, there were only millimetres in it again when Ronaldo Mulitalo scored a stunner in the corner, having just barely stayed in the field of play.
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Lindsay Collins was later denied when he was judged to have grounded the ball just short of the tryline.
The momentum of the tackle seemed to be finished when Collins surged again. Atkins sent it upstairs as a no-try, and the Bunker upheld the call.
It was a decision that left Roosters coach Trent Robinson incensed.
In a farcical final few minutes, both Brandon Smith and Victor Radley were binned for separate incidents – Smith for a high shot on Cameron McInnes, and Radley for a flop.
It was the eighth time in his career that Radley had been sent to the bin. The Roosters have never won a match in which he has been binned.
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