Battered Sharks put Panthers to sword

A BATTERED and bruised Cronulla have shaken off a mounting injury toll to ignite their season with a 26- 22 NRL upset of Penrith.

The Sharks were under pressure with Paul Gallen ( knee) and Wade Graham ( hamstring) watching from the sideline at the Southern Cross Group Stadium and their position became worse when they lost Luke Lewis in the 12th minute.

With 828 NRL games worth of experience missing, the Sharks put in their best performance of the year yesterday to end a two- game losing streak.

Playing against his junior club for the first time, fiveeighth Matt Moylan had his best game in Sharks colours as the Panthers were knocked from second spot. It was an import two points for Cronulla, who have looked down on confidence the first six weeks.

James Maloney, who has been in superb form during the Panthers’ three- straight victories, had an off night against his former team and almost cost his side a penalty try.

After leading 10- 6 at the break, the Sharks extended their advantage to 10 after Josh Dugan opened the Penrith defence from the back field for Jesse Ramien to score a few plays later.

Replacement hooker Sione Katoa had been on the field for only three minutes when he grubbered for Dylan Edwards to reduce the deficit to six points. But James Segeyaro returned in kind, dribbling the ball in- goal for Ramien’s second.

A Chad Townsend penalty extended the Sharks’ advantage to 26- 12.

And while Isaah Yeo and Viliame Kikau tries in the final three minutes reduced the gap to four, the Panthers were never really in the fight in the second half.