The Sharks defeated the Dragons in a close contest winning 24-18 and the final hopes of the Red V.
Playmaker Nicho Hynes started the scoring, throwing a big dummy inside veteran Tariq Sims.
“There’s a lot of responsibility on Nicho Hynes tonight,” Greg Alexander said.
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MATCH CENTRE: Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons live scores
“Throws the dummy, gets inside Tariq Sims and the Sims can’t stop him.”
But to kick-start the back-and-forth local derby, Jack De Belin got his hands on a Ben Hunt shot that bounced across.
The contest turned ugly after backrower Tariq Sims hit Sharks gun Connor Tracey with a hard hit to the face.
The Cronulla outside back had to be dragged off the field and Sims was sent to the sin bin.
In that time, Sharks substitute Braydon Trindall took over, scoring a try and recording a try assist to stamp his authority on the contest.
“Braydon Trindall again, high speed, running to the line … just watch him, he’s taking off,” Alexander said.
“Braydon Trindall has been the man in this first half.”
“The man who is really shining in Matt Moylan’s absence,” said Ginnane.
Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey was isolated at half-time, and to start the second half, Tautau Moga and Mat Feagai scored for the Dragons to regain the lead.
“The dragons were flailing,” Dan Ginnane said.
“Mat Feagai, get the dragons a test that gets them back in,” said Greg Alexander.
But in a brutal blow to the club’s finals hopes, Wade Graham scored after youngster Tyrell Sloan dropped a dunk.
While the Dragons were brave in attack in the final minutes, they couldn’t do enough to secure the victory.
“The Dragons’ season is over,” said Dan Ginnane.
Read below for the three key takeaways from tonight’s clash!
HYNES SHINES
In the absence of Matt Moylan, the playing duties were always going to fall firmly on the shoulders of Nicho Hynes.
While many would walk away from the big responsibility, Hynes delivered just when his team needed him most.
“There’s a lot of responsibility on Nicho Hynes tonight with Matt Moylan not there, Will Kennedy not,” Dan Ginnane said.
“Experienced members of the spine, Blayke Brailey and Nicho Hynes, will carry some weight with them tonight in terms of creativity.”
“He’ll have to be in command with his usual pair of outside halves,” Lara Pitt said.
Hynes led his troops around the park, and came away with a big win even though his team’s performance was, by his own admission, poor.
The 26-year-old capped the night with an early try, launching a huge dummy to skip inside Tariq Sims just three minutes into the contest.
To go with his four points, Hynes recorded 118 yards rushing, five tackle breaks and a touchdown in an impressive performance.
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Distressed Sims After Tracey’s KO | 00:37
TRINDALL MASTERCLASS
Braydon Trindall delivered again in the absence of one of the Sharks’ regular halves.
In Round 17, Trindall replaced Nicho Hynes, who was ruled out due to Covid-19, orchestrating a big win against the Storm.
Again in Round 21, Trindall was heavily involved in his side’s win against the Dragons.
In a 10-minute stretch, the 23-year-old charged to the line to score, before hitting Teig Wilton with a short ball to cross comfortably.
“Braydon Trindall again, high speed, running to the line … just watch him, he’s taking off,” Alexander said.
“Braydon Trindall has been the man in this first half.”
“The man who is really shining in Matt Moylan’s absence,” said Ginnane.
Trindall finished the night with a try, a try assist, four tackle breaks and a linebreak.
Although Fox League’s Lara Pitt revealed Moylan was likely to return in round 22 following a quad injury, Fitzgibbon will be confident his replacement can get the job done if called upon.
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RACE OF THE SIMS DRAGONS HANGING BY A THREAD
Dragons enforcer Tariq Sims’ Red V career could be over after he was reported for an ugly shot on Sharks gun Connor Tracey.
While Tracey ducked and Sims’ contact was clearly accidental, the heavy blow to the face left Tracey unconscious, having to be dragged off the field.
Sims has signed with the Melbourne Storm for the 2023 season and could now be sidelined for the rest of 2022.
“That could be it for Tariq with a Dragons jumper, only four rounds to go, he’ll be out for a while,” Ginnane said.
“Seven years here at the Dragons and it seems their concern is with the player.”
Sims was clearly shaken by the blow, keeping his eyes fixed on Tracey with a worried look on his face.
“He hasn’t taken his eyes off Connor Tracey, not that that helps him in terms of his punishment, but his concern has been obvious.”
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