As it happened: Sharks sink Dragons with second-half blitz

Next week: The Dragons have a bye in Round 16 while the Sharks head to Brisbane to face the Broncos in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster. 

Hooking in: Blayke Brailey turned in a five-star display for the Sharks with 125 metres from 11 runs to go with two line breaks and a try assist. He was also tireless in defence with 52 tackles while Addin Fonua-Blake came up with 47 tackles and Cam McInnes 43.

Rock solid debut: Dragons winger Nick Tsougranis looked right at home on the NRL stage as he came up with 18 runs for 154 metres and 20 tackles. The 20-year-old was strong in defence and returned the ball powerfully out of his own end.

Full-time: The Sharks complete a sensational comeback from 12 points down at the break to win by 12 with Addin Fonua-Blake dominant in the middle with 17 runs for 195 metres and the back five combining for 880 run metres. The Sharks had 38 tackle breaks to 26 and scored four tries to nil in the second half to grab their eighth win of the season.

75 min: Sione Katoa shows great hands to slide in and collect a Lyhkan King-Togia grubber kick, get to his feet and race 55 metres to score his second try of the night. Nicho Hynes converts. Sharks 30-18.

74 min: Blayke Brailey looks to have sealed it when he scoots over from dummy half but the Sharks are penalised for Cameron McInnes not facing square when he played the ball.

71 min: A penalty against David Klemmer for tackling a player without the ball just five metres out from the line gives Nicho Hynes a shot at penalty goal which he converts. Sharks 24-18.

69 min: The Sharks threaten again from a high ball and get another set after Tyrell Sloan knocks down a pass.

63 min: Briton Nikora grubbers into the in-goal and Tyrell Sloan cleans it up but it is taken touch in goal by the swarming Sharks. The short dropout by Clint Gutherson fails to go 10 metres and the Sharks are on the attack again but Sione Katoa is forced into touch by Nathan Lawson.

60 min: Another Sharks kick, this time from Nicho Hynes, draws an error from Nathan Lawson but replays show Jesse Ramien had touched the ball first in the contest so the Red V get the ball and try to work away from danger.

57 min: The Sharks go right from the scrum and Sione Katoa leaves Moses Suli clutching at thin air to post another Sharks try. That's three tries in eight minutes for the Sharks who lead 22-18.

56 min: Another pinpoint Braydon Trindall bomb, another Dragons error, this time from Nathan Lawson just a metre out from his own line.

54 min: Braydon Trindall puts the ball in the air from close range and Tyrell Sloan and Clint Gutherson get in each other's way and come up with a horrible error. The ball rolls into the in-goal and Trindall pounces to post Cronulla's third try. Nicho Hynes adds the extras. 18-18.

52 min: The Dragons go with a short dropout and Sione Katoa makes a meal of trying to keep the ball in play, stepping on the sideline and handing the Dragons the ball.

48 min: A high tackle penalty against Moses Suli invites the Sharks into the Red Zone and Briton Nikora delivers a much-needed try for the home side when he powers through Luciano Leilua and Lyhkan King-Togia to score in his 150th game. Nicho Hynes converts. Dragons 18-12.

47 min: Slick hands to the right edge gives Sione Katoa a shot at a try but Lyhkan King-Togia comes up with a superb tackle to deny the Sharks winger.

42 min: We're back to 13 on 13 with Jesse Ramien returning from the sin bin.

Half-time: Both teams completed high - Sharks 19/21, Dragons 20/21 - but it's the Red V who take a commanding lead to the break on the back of Jack de Belin and David Klemmer laying the platform and Clint Gutherson (124 run metres) again proving a handful in attack. Jesse Ramien and Ronaldo Mulitalo combined for 21 runs and 231 metres for the Sharks but Ramien blotted his copybook when he was banished to the bin late in the half. The home side also had Braydon Trindall placed on report a late tackle on Kyle Flanagan.

40 min: Braydon Trindall dribbles a grubber into the in-goal but Damien Cook is able to get to the ball ahead of Teig Wilton and ground the ball to send us to the break at 18-6.

39 min: The Dragons go close again but the Sharks scramble well enough to stop Moses Suli just short of the line.

33 min: Veteran forward Jack de Belin takes a short ball from Kyle Flanagan and crashes over from close range to extend the Dragons' lead. De Belin takes his first break of the night after scoring with 96 run metres and 18 tackles to his name. Flanagan converts the try. Dragons 18-6.

32 min: Jesse Ramien is sent to the sin for a professional foul after the Dragons had made big metres from the Hynes error.

31 min: Braydon Trindall launches a huge bomb and Clint Gutherson is penalised for an escort on Ronaldo Mulitalo but the Sharks blow the opportunity when Nicho Hynes puts the ball down.

26 min: A sensational solo try to Lyhkan King-Togia puts the Dragons in front as the young playmaker leaves Oregon Kaufusi and Addin Fonua-Blake in his wake with some dazzling footwork. Kyle Flanagan converts. Dragons 12-6.

24 min: Tyrell Sloan goes for the corner and flicks the ball back inside as the Sharks defence converges but the ball is intercepted by Blayke Brailey.

22 min: Will Kennedy comes up with a poor error off a high ball and invites the Dragons into the Red Zone.

20 min: The Dragons go on the attack in search of a second try but Clint Gutherson's kick on the last tackle is easily handled by Ronaldo Mulitalo.

16 min: Emre Guler attracts three defenders and slips an offload to Damien Cook who shows his trademark speed and step to race away for the Dragons' opening try. Kyle Flanagan bangs over the conversion to tie it up at 6-6.

10 min: On the back of a penalty and a six-again the Sharks march up the field and Blayke Brailey finds space out of dummy half before picking up Braydon Trindall who crosses for the opening try. Nicho Hynes converts. Sharks 6-0.

8 min: The Sharks get across the line through Mawene Hiroti but the try is ruled out by the bunker for interference on Kyle Flanagan by Ronaldo Mulitalo in the challenge for the high ball. The Dragons get the penalty and work away from their danger zone.

5 min: After the sides traded sets early it's the Sharks who go on the attack after Ryan Couchman is penalised for a slow peel.

 

Late Mail

Sharks: Prop Toby Rudolf has joined the bench an hour before kick-off in his return from a syndesmosis injury that has sidelined him since Round 7. Ronaldo Mulitalo returns from suspension on the wing so Mawene Hiroti pushes in to the centres to replace KL Iro (pectoral).

Dragons: No further game day changes for the Red V after local junior Nick Tsougranis came into the squad on Wednesday to make his NRL debut at centre. Tyrell Sloan returns on the wing in place of Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring). Emre Guler will start at prop after being 18th man against the Dolphins and Luciano Leilua starts in the back row in place of Raymond Faitala-Mariner (illness).

 

Numbers Game

• The Sharks have won their last nine games against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have not won at Sharks Stadium since 2018.
• Dragons centre Moses Suli will play his 150th NRL game.
• Sharks second-rower Briton Nikora will make his 150th NRL appearance.