Late Try Seals Loss
Late Melbourne Try Shocks Cronulla, Forcing Sharks Into Elimination Final
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Key Points
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Melbourne raced to a 12-0 lead after the two early sin-binnings. Debutant Michael Gabrael was sent to the sin bin in the fifth minute—on the first tackle of his NRL career—for a shoulder charge on Melbourne winger Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, who was later stretchered off and taken to hospital for precautionary checks after reporting neck pain.
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Cronulla had a chance to close out the match after forcing a goal-line dropout with just over a minute remaining, but failed to regain possession, allowing Melbourne to work its way downfield for Loiero’s winning try.
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The loss extended a difficult run for coach Craig Fitzgibbon: after Cronulla’s earlier defeat to Parramatta cost the Sharks a chance at a top-four finish, Fitzgibbon reportedly vented his frustration by taking it out on a computer monitor.
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The proposed move to Allianz Stadium is linked not only to capacity but also to finals revenue: Shark Park holds about 14,000, while the larger venue could generate roughly 10,000 additional ticket sales because the NRL receives the gate takings from finals matches.
Melbourne's Storm pulled off a last-second heist against Cronulla, scoring a 24-20 victory when Trent Loiero crossed in the final moments off a Harry Grant pass The Age. The Sharks led late but couldn't hang on, and now face an elimination final against North Queensland after back-to-back losses derailed their top-four push SMH. Cronulla also won't host the playoff at their home ground—the NRL forced them to move from Shark Park to a larger venue, a decision that has sparked anger among club officials Brisbane Times.
Debutant Sin Bin Puts Sharks on Back Foot
Melbourne stormed to a 12-0 lead after Cronulla's early discipline problems Head to Topics. Debutant Michael Gabrael was sin-binned in the fifth minute—on his first NRL tackle—for a shoulder charge on Melbourne winger Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown. Tuimalatu-Brown was later stretchered off and taken to hospital for precautionary checks after reporting neck pain SMH.
Final-Second Heartbreak Ends Sharks' Playoff Hopes
Cronulla had a golden chance to close out the match with just over a minute left The Age. The Sharks forced a goal-line dropout but couldn't regain possession. Melbourne worked downfield and scored through Loiero to steal the game SMH. The loss came after Cronulla already missed their top-four shot following a defeat to Parramatta Brisbane Times.
Cronulla Forced From Home Ground for Finals
The NRL has relocated Cronulla's elimination final away from Shark Park WA Today. The league decided the home ground is too small for a major playoff. Cronulla will now play at a larger venue that can hold roughly 10,000 more fans The Age. The move has angered club officials but could boost gate revenue significantly for the NRL, which keeps the finals ticket takings Brisbane Times.
Sharks Set to Get Key Players Back for Finals Run
Cronulla is expected to regain Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, Blayke Brailey, and KL Iro for the elimination final SMH. However, Trindall is returning from a shoulder injury. The roster boost gives the Sharks a chance to mount a comeback against North Queensland in their must-win matchup Head to Topics.
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