Sharks’ grit gets points
CRONULLA have put a highly emotional week behind them with a scrappy 38-12 NRL win over Newcastle to keep their top four hopes alive.
The Sharks paid tribute to former back-rower Lance Thompson, who died on Thursday, with the club retiring his No.12 jersey for the day and Wade Graham wearing No.23.
Prop Andrew Fifita looked like a man on a mission to make a statement, creating havoc with every touch after attracting a raft of criticism during the week.
He was twice hauled before club officials in the build-up after his on-field spray directed at the coach’s box last week, and his expletive-laden comments on a podcast directed at a journalist.
Fifita charged 188m from 20 carries and made 20 tackles. His influence was all over Edrick Lee’s try to make it 14-6 at halftime when he got the Knights back peddling.
The game also marked the debut of Kyle Flanagan, the son of coach Shane Flanagan, who looked promising in his first game but left most of the playmaking duties to Chad Townsend.