Sharks players celebrate a try by Sosaia Feki. Source: Stefan Postles / Getty Images
ANDREW Fifita, shortly before the break in this one, appeared on the sidelines.
| 3 Tries 6 | |
|---|---|
| David Shillington 16' | Sosaia Feki 3' |
| Anthony Milford 40' | Luke Lewis 23' |
| David Shillington 62' | Jeff Robson 52' |
| Tyrone Peachey 70' | |
| Bryce Gibbs 73' | |
| Beau Ryan 77' | |
| 3 Conversions 6 | |
| Jarrod Croker 17' | Michael Gordon 4' |
| Jarrod Croker 40' | Michael Gordon 25' |
| Jarrod Croker 63' | Michael Gordon 53' |
| Michael Gordon 71' | |
| Michael Gordon 75' | |
| Michael Gordon 79' | |
| 0 Penalties 1 | |
| Michael Gordon 38' | |
Wearing a club baseball cap. Cue the alarm bells.
On a night where Sharks coach Shane Flanagan did everything to conserve his players bar sending them out bubble wrap, NSW Origin star Fifita still managed to put his NRL playoff hopes under a cloud after leaving the field in the 24th minute with a leg complaint.
While the Sharkies would eventually win this one 38-18, all attention will now descend upon the barnstorming 114kg forward, who left the field clutching a calf and returned shortly after dressed in his civvies.
Indeed, this was the injury that Cronulla, with their place on the top eight already secured, had tried so hard to prevent.
Apart from having skipper Paul Gallen suspended, the Sharks also rested Todd Carney, Wade Graham, Jason Bukuya and Anthony Tupou -- all of whom will be back for week one of the playoffs.
But as for Fifita, well, who knows?
Call it that sort of night. A game where apart from confirming Bryce Gibbs is no longer on a nudie run, gave us very little in terms of how deep the Shire Boys will progress into September.
Not only were the visitors playing without five genuine NRL starters, then six when Fifita departed, they were up against a Canberra who has sacked not one, but two NSW Origin players this year.
Without Blake Ferguson, the Raiders came into this one having already dropped five games and interim coach Andrew Dunemann claiming he had been gifted a "hand grenade". It got little better last night.
Despite trailing by only two with a tick over 10 minutes to go, the Raiders had still kicked out on the full from the kick off, kicked out on the full from a drop out and also played a man short for 10 minutes following the 51st sin binning of centre Sami Sauiluma.
In fact, among the few highlights of this, the last game of the regular season, was the fact both Raiders prop Dave Shillington and Cronulla rival Gibbs -- who had been without a try since the 2005 Grand Final -- both got of the traditional Mad Monday nudie run.
Incredibly, having gone without a four pointer all year, Shillington bagged a double while Gibbs, whose drought rivals anything ever witness by western NSW farmers, ignited celebrations of Grand Final proportions when he crossed with six minutes remaining.
Despite having their place in the top eight secured, Cronulla still played from in front after just three minutes when winger Sosaia Feki found himself on the end of a simple backline play.
From their, the visitors would eventually run in another five tries while, for the Raiders, the undisputed highlight was another sizzling four-pointer from Anthony Milford.
Only seconds from the break, skipper Terry Campese passed to halfback Sam Williams who, with Milford flying through on the inside, offered up a beautiful little pop pass to send the little No.1 away.
Sadly, for Raiders fans, it was a rare highlight.
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