Sharks slay the Dragons

ST George Illawarra is adamant it can reignite its NRL campaign despite a big dent in its top eight chances courtesy of a 28-8 loss to Cronulla.

Missing a host of key players including Benji Marshall, Trent Merrin and Josh Dugan, it suffered its fifth loss in a row in front of 12,792 fans at Remondis Stadium yesterday.

The Sharks jumped into ninth — only outside the eight on for-and-against — but admit they still remain a work in progress after failing to put the Dragons to the sword.

The Dragons were missing 13 of their top 25 including Merrin (suspension), Marshall (hamstring), Dugan (arm), Joel Thompson (hamstring), Tyson Frizell (back) and Dylan Farrell (back).

On the flip side, the return of NSW stars Paul Gallen and Michael Ennis was telling for the Sharks as they burst out of the blocks for a 16-0 lead after 28 minutes.

Luke Lewis celebrated his 250th NRL match by scoring one of his side’s three first-half tries.

The Sharks committed a cardinal sin — letting in a try just before half-time to Charly Runciman — to allow the Dragons back into the contest.

The second half turned into an arm wrestle and the Dragons weren’t without their chances.

They could have gotten within striking distance after front-rower and skipper Ben Creagh charged on to a ball close to the line however utility Ben Barba pulled off one of the try-savers of the season — albeit one he was penalised for, having lifted above the horizontal.

The Sharks did enough in the end, icing the game via Andrew Fifita — who was a standout running for a gamehigh 203 metres — and Barba. Yet they were far from convincing.

“[They played to their best] in patches but it’s not quite there. I can’t wait until we put 80 minutes together. We haven’t done that all year. We’re getting closer every week,” Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said.

Dugan, Marshall and Thompson are likely to return against Canberra next week. In Auckland, the NZ Warriors overcame Melbourne Storm 28-14 at Mt Smart Stadium.