Cronulla Sharks missed a critical opportunity to re-enter the NRL’s top four, suffering a disappointing 24-20 defeat against the struggling Canberra Raiders. The loss was compounded by an injury to key playmaker Braydon Trindall, who dislocated his shoulder, as the Dolphins maintained their hold on the crucial fourth place with just three rounds left before the finals.
Despite dominating the final ten minutes by repeatedly pressuring the Raiders’ defense, Cronulla was unable to secure a game-winning score. The growing list of injuries is likely to trouble coach Craig Fitzgibbon, who has witnessed his team stumble through consecutive losses against opponents who are out of finals contention.
Trindall’s departure came within the first ten minutes of the match. Although early assessments were optimistic when his shoulder was reset, Fitzgibbon chose not to risk further injury to the pivotal player while the Sharks were ahead 8-0 and performing well. This decision may have backfired, allowing the Raiders to regain control and momentum.
Already missing suspended forward Addin Fonua-Blake and injured center Jesse Ramien, the Sharks found themselves increasingly vulnerable as the match progressed.
The game began positively for Cronulla, highlighted by a penalty from Nicho Hynes followed by a brilliant chip-and-regather try from Trindall in the fifth minute. However, after Trindall’s exit, the Sharks struggled to maintain their advantage. Raiders winger Xavier Savage capitalized on a well-placed pass from Kaeo Weekes to score, followed by Owen Pattie, who pushed Canberra ahead 12-8 within 15 minutes.
Things worsened for Cronulla when winger Jed Stuart received a double cut-out pass from Ethan Strange, extending the Raiders’ lead to ten points. Yet, with their top-four ambitions and potential championship hopes on the line, the Sharks fought back, with Teig Wilton scoring off a short pass from Hynes.
As the first half ended, Cronulla had a chance to reclaim the lead, but Briton Nikora overlooked a three-on-one situation on the right flank. The Sharks struck first after the break, with Will Kennedy scoring, only to relinquish momentum to Canberra when Joseph Tapine scored a straightforward try under the posts.
A pivotal moment came with seven minutes left when video reviews suggested Ronaldo Mulitalo had scored a potential equalizer, but the on-field ruling of “no try” by referee Gerard Sutton was upheld by The Bunker.
This near-miss turned out to be Cronulla’s final opportunity, as the Sharks endured back-to-back defeats against last-place St George Illawarra and now Canberra. They will likely need to secure victories against Gold Coast, Parramatta, and Melbourne to earn a double chance in the playoffs, as no team has ever won the NRL premiership from outside the top four.
