The Sharks beat the Dragons in a close contest to win 24-18 and final hopes Red V.
Renowned point guard Nicho Hynes kicked the scoring, tossing a big dummy to duck inside veteran Tariq Sims.
“There’s a lot of responsibility on Nicho Hynes tonight,” said Greg Alexander.
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MATCH CENTRE: Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons, Live Scores
“Throw the dummy, get inside Tariq Sims, and the Sims can’t stop him.”
But, to start the home derby back and forth, Jack De Belin got his hands on a bouncing kick from Ben Hunt to cross.
The contest then turned ugly after backrower Tariq Sims hit Sharks gun Connor Tracey with a powerful blow to the face.
Cronulla’s outside back had to be stretched off the court and Sims was sent to the trash.
Around that time, Sharks backup playmaker Braydon Trindall took over, scoring a try and registering an assist to mark his authority on the contest.
“Braydon Trindall again, high speed, run to the line…look at him, take off,” Alexander said.
“Braydon Trindall was the man of that first half.”
“The man who really shines in the absence of Matt Moylan,” Ginnane said.
Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey was taken off on the stroke of halftime, and to start the second half Tautau Moga and Mat Feagai scored to put the Dragons back in the lead.
“The Dragons are leaping,” said Dan Ginnane.
“Mat Feagai, catch the Dragons a try that puts them right back in the game,” Greg Alexander said.
But, in a brutal blow to the club’s hopes in the final, Wade Graham scored after young shot-stopper Tyrell Sloan dropped a domb.
Although the Dragons were valiant in attack in the final minutes, they couldn’t do enough to claim victory.
“Dragons season is almost over,” said Dan Ginnane.
Read the top three takeaways from tonight’s clash below!
HYNES SHINES
In Matt Moylan’s absence, the playmaker duties were always going to be placed firmly on the shoulders of Nicho Hynes.
While many would retreat under the heavy responsibility, Hynes delivered just when his team needed him most.
“There’s a lot of responsibility on Nicho Hynes tonight with Matt Moylan not there, Will Kennedy not there,” Dan Ginnane said.
“Experienced backbone members Blayke Brailey and Nicho Hynes will have a bit of a hand with them tonight in terms of creativity.”
“He’s going to have to be in charge with his regular part-time partner,” Lara Pitt said.
Hynes led his troops around the park, picking up a big win even though his team’s performance, by his own admission, was scrappy.
The 26-year-old ended the night with an early try, throwing a big dummy to jump inside Tariq Sims just three minutes into the contest.
To go along with his four-pointer, Hynes recorded 118 running yards, five tackle jumps and a line break in an impressive performance.
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THE TRINDALL MASTERCLASS
Braydon Trindall delivered again in the absence of one of the Sharks regular halves.
In round 17, Trindall replaced Nicho Hynes who was ruled out due to Covid-19, orchestrating a big win against the Storm.
Again in Round 21, Trindall was instrumental in his team’s win over the Dragons.
Within 10 minutes, the 23-year-old charged down the line to score, before hitting Teig Wilton with a short ball to cross comfortably.
“Braydon Trindall again, high speed, run to the line…look at him, take off,” Alexander said.
“Braydon Trindall was the man of that first half.”
“The man who really shines in the absence of Matt Moylan,” Ginnane said.
Trindall finished the night with a try, an assist on a try, four tackle breaks and a line break.
While Fox League’s Lara Pitt has revealed Moylan will likely return in Round 22 after a quad injury, Fitzgibbon will be confident his backup point guard can get the job done if called upon.
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THE SIMS DRAGONS CAREER HANGS BY A THREAD
Dragons enforcer Tariq Sims Red V’s career could be over after he was indicted for a nasty high shot at Sharks gun Connor Tracey.
As Tracey ducked and Sims’ contact was clearly accidental, the heavy blow to the face left Tracey unconscious, having to be stretched off the court.
Sims signed with the Melbourne Storm for the 2023 season and could now be sidelined for the remainder of 2022.
“Maybe that’s it for Tariq in a Dragons jumper, there are only four rounds left, he’s going to be out for a while,” Ginnane said.
“Seven years here at the Dragons and it seems his concern is on the player.”
Sims was clearly shaken by the blow, keeping his eyes on Tracey with a worried look on his face.
“He didn’t take his eyes off Connor Tracey, not that it will help him in terms of punishment, but his concern was evident.”
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