A brilliant Will Kennedy hat-trick saw the Sharks clinch a thrilling 30-26 win over the Eels at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
The lead changed hands seven times throughout the course of the match, some wayward goal-kicking from Mitchell Moses eventually proving the difference.
Despite spending extended periods camped on their own line, the Sharks showed great resilience to hold the Eels out.
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Kennedy’s third for the night typified the Cronulla effort.
Defending deep in their own half again, Ronaldo Mulitalo made a brilliant dash and ran some 60m before he was chased down by Gutherson on his 30m line.
Off the play-the-ball, the Sharks quickly moved the ball to Kennedy, who put on some footwork straight out of Strictly Ballroom. It put the Sharks back in front.
Earlier, the Eels flew out of the blocks and enjoyed a 10-0 lead in just the fifth minute.
But in the lead-up to the Eels’ second try, skipper Clint Gutherson was poleaxed by Jesse Ramien. The independent doctor pulled him from the field, and the momentum immediately swung.
With Gutherson in the sheds, the Sharks dominated possession, and took the lead through almost identical tries to Briton Nikora and Kennedy.
Mitchell Moses – playing his 200th NRL game – put the Eels back in front, before Kennedy scored his second in the shadows of half-time to see the Sharks take a slender 18-14 lead into the break.
As they did in the first half, the Eels flew out of the gates in the second half, and pressured the Sharks line heavily.
Maika Sivo eventually scored for the Eels to retake the lead, but from there on it was all Cronulla.
It was a lead they would never give up. Mulitalo would extend the Sharks’ lead on the hour mark.
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Moses’ second for the night in the 72nd minute set up a thrilling finish, but the Sharks would hold on.
Eels coach Brad Arthur said he couldn’t fault his side’s effort, but conceded their defence needed work.
“We scored five tries, so you can’t have five tries put on you, 30 points scored against you and be happy with the performance,” he said.
“Some big moments and crucial times costs us.”
It’s the first time since 2018 the Eels have started the season with back-to-back losses.
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