Posted:
2024-04-28 03:15:54
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-28/nrl-live-updates-dolphins-knights-raiders-sharks/103764154
Ricky Stuart's 500th NRL match as coach has ended on a sour note, with his Canberra Raiders thumped 40-0 by Cronulla.
Earlier, Newcastle held off a fast-finishing Dolphins to win 18-14 at Lang Park.
Without vital halfback Jamal Fogarty, the Raiders looked blunt in attack and were no match for the surging Sharks, who scored seven unanswered tries to make it four wins on the bounce.
Defence was just as much of a problem for the hosts, with lapses allowing their rivals to skip clear early without playing their best football.
When the Sharks hit their straps late, they carved them up. Winger Sione Katoa took full advantage of the soft edges to score an easy double.
Makeshift halfback and Raiders debutant Kaeo Weekes struggled to leave a mark on the contest, his kicking game lacking the expertise Fogarty's had been delivering.
Cronulla had no such problems without Braydon Trindall after his midweek drink-driving charges. Dan Atkinson confidently took the five-eighth role and paired with the in-form Nicho Hynes.
Halfback Hynes scored one try, assisted another, kicked a 40-20 and ran the Sharks' potent attack to continue building into his 2024 campaign.
The Raiders were down 12-0 after two poor breakdowns, although could have found a way back in on 26 minutes when speedster Xavier Savage put Danny Levi clean through.
But the hooker dropped the ball cold with minimal pressure on him, and instead of trailing 12-6 they were down 18-0 just a minute later when Katoa crossed out wide.
The Sharks made the Raiders pay for not taking their chances again shortly after half-time, second-rower Briton Nikora skipping through the line just two minutes after Canberra five-eighth Ethan Strange was held up in-goal.
NSW State of Origin candidate Cam McInnes had gotten the ball rolling for the Sharks with a scrambled team effort on 14 minutes, but the alarm bells really began ringing for the Raiders when prop Thomas Hazelton galloped through to score untouched soon after.
The Raiders, whose spine features Weekes (22 years old, one club game), Strange (19, nine games) and fullback Chevy Stewart (18, three games), won't have Fogarty for about three months as he recovers from a ruptured bicep.
Catch up on Sunday's NRL action with our blog.
ABC/AAP
That is all for the weekend of rugby league
A terrific round of NRL has come to an end.
Big crowds and big scores were the theme of Anzac Round this year.
The NRL ladder is starting to take shape as we approach winter.
ABC Sport will be back next week for more live coverage of the NRL.
Goodnight.
Newcastle focus on themselves
Joe Tapine after a very disappointing performance from the Raiders
Joe Tapine has spoken to ABC Sport following a 40-0 defeat.
Tapine's missed tackle allowed Tom Hazelton to score in the first half.
"That’s gonna haunt me for a couple of weeks, that’s not up to my standards."
Tom Hazelton making try-scoring a habit
Historic loss for thr Raiders
It's bad reading for Canberra fans.
This is the first time they have been kept scoreless since 2013, when they didn't score against the Titans at Robina.
It's the first time they have been held scoreless at home since 2012 against the Tigers.
FT: Cronulla flog Canberra 40-0
A great outing for the Sharks.
They have easily accounted for the Raiders in Canberra.
Canberra were not good today — or in the words of Luke Lewis, boring.
75' TRY: Sharks make it 40 with a seventh try
Too easy for the Sharks.
They have their seventh try of the afternoon.
This time Jesse Ramien receives the pass from Nicho Hynes who carries two Raiders over the line for the try.
62' TRY: Sione Katoa gets a double after a Nicho Hynes intercept
Another chance for the Raiders has been wasted.
Attacking the Sharks' line, Nicho Hynes intercepts a pass and returns it to halfway.
The Raiders are back-peddling.
A couple of plays later and the Sharks are in again, Sione Katoa finishes off the passage by strolling into the corner.
Cronulla leads 36-0.
55': Nicho Hynes completes a passage of individual brilliance
Nicho Hynes is a superstar.
The Sharks are coming out of their own end.
Final tackle after not many metres gained, and Hynes nails a 40/20.
Great kick. I don't think the Canberra winger knew Hynes had kicked it from inside the 40-metre line.
Two plays later, Hynes takes the ball and carves through the Raiders' defence to score.
And he kicks the goal.
What a couple of minutes from Hynes.
52': Ronaldo Mulitalo on report
The Raiders get a full set of six starting just 10 metres away from the Sharks' try line.
It comes after they received a penalty after Ronaldo Mulitalo hit someone late.
Ronaldo is on report.
46' TRY: Sharks score through Briton Nikora
The Sharks are in for their fourth try.
Briton Nikora scores his first try.
The Sharks were awarded their first penalty of the afternoon and it allowed them to get into attacking range.
Last play, 10 metres out. Nicho Hynes goes short-side and delivers a great pass to Briton Nikora.
John Gibbs says Canberra's goal line defence was not up to scratch during that passage.
44': Sharks fullback William Kennedy produces a fantastic try-saving tackle
Well done Will Kennedy.
Canberra's Ethan Strange looked certain to score.
But Kennedy wraps around his ball and keeps the ball in the air, as Stange tries to ground it.
Stage knocks-on.
That is a fantastic effort.
Second half begins in Canberra
Cronulla will want to return to the error-free football that guided them to an 18-0 lead.
The Raiders will think if they can convert one opportunity, more will come.
A State of Origin hypothetical
Hi Michael, love your work, Question, If Harry grant gets injured (god forbid), who is the next best rake for QLD? Maxi Plath? SOO smokie?
- Mike Evans
Hey Mike.
Thanks for reading.
Firstly, let's not wish injury to anyone.
But, in your scenario I think Ben Hunt would be the starting hooker for the Maroons.
Max Plath is an interesting suggestion.
I think Reed Mahoney would probably be next in line.
Interesting debate.
Match report: Newcastle Knights 18 def. Dolphins 14
Reporting by AAP
Newcastle fullback David Armstrong had a stunning debut in the absence of the injured Kalyn Ponga to help orchestrate an 18-14 upset win over the wasteful Dolphins.
And the Dolphins' afternoon at Lang Park grew worse when captain Jesse Bromwich left the field in the second half with a calf injury.
The Knights also lost forward Daniel Saifiti to a lower leg injury.
Armstrong and Dolphins pocket dynamo Trai Fuller, in just his third NRL game, had a classic fullback battle and were two of the best players on the field.
The 23-year-old Armstrong scored the opening try and made a try-saving tackle on Fuller in the second half. He was magnificent under the high ball and in general play with his elusive running.
Ponga is set to miss 12 weeks with a Lisfranc injury to his foot but Armstrong showed coach Adam O'Brien he was more than ready to play at the top level.
Fuller was electric and brave but his teammates struggled to get out of second gear until it was too late.
Knights props Leo Thompson and Jacob Saifiti, in his 150th NRL game for the club, ripped in early to set up a 10-0 lead as a sluggish Dolphins outfit bumbled their way through the opening quarter of the match.
The visitors were rewarded for their discipline and patience when half Jackson Hastings threw a sublime inside ball to Armstrong who sliced over untouched.
Five-eighth Tyson Gamble found veteran Dane Gagai with a slick pass and the centre showed his experience to hit a hole and score.
The Dolphins didn't get out of first gear until centre Jake Averillo blitzed opposite number Bradman Best and found second-rower Oryn Keeley, who scored his first NRL try against his former club.
Dolphins forward Kenny Bromwich failed a category two HIA and Knights forward Jed Cartwright was ruled out with an ankle injury, both in the first half.
Gagai waltzed over after the break after pathetic defence by the Dolphins allowed bench hooker Phoenix Crossland to burst into the clear.
The Dolphins bombed two tries, one when Averillo failed to collect a grubber kick through by Kodi Nikorima.
Nikorima set up Jamayne Isaako for a try and Averillo finished an electric movement, both in the last five minutes, but it was too little and too late.
HT: Cronulla takes an 18-0 lead over the Raiders at half-time
The Sharks were on top for the first 25 minutes and they got three tries out of it.
But Cronulla made several errors, giving the Raiders a chance at the end of the half.
Canberra were wasteful, however, and could not make an imprint on the scoreboard.
35': Canberra get a full set at the Sharks line
A few more errors from the Sharks have put them on the back foot.
Nicho Hynes has kicked a goal line drop out, out on the full.
But Canberra dropped the ball on the third tackle.
Ricky Stuart is not having a happy 500th game as coach.
31': Canberra starting to gain some momentum
The Raiders have been given a few opportunities.
The Sharks were penalised for being downtown after a kick, and the Sharks a few minutes later spilled the ball on halfway.
This is a good chance for the Raiders to get their first points.
25' TRY: Sharks make the Raiders pay with another try
Directly after Danny Levi dropped the ball with the line begging, the Sharks marched downfield and scored.
Sione Katoa on the right wing strolls in as the Sharks finish off the nice play to his side of the field.
Alarm bells are sounding for the Raiders.
Cronulla lead 18-0.
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