In a performance described as ‘embarrassing’ by coach Ricky Stuart, the Sharks have slumped to a 26-16 loss to South Sydney.
Souths jumped out to a 20-6 half time lead and while the Sharks showed more commitment in the second 40 minutes, they had given the opposition too much start and were unable to bridge the gap.
While praising his opponents for their performance, Stuart was left disappointed by the efforts of his side, particularly in the first half.
“We let in four soft tries in the first half and yet we were only beaten by 10 points,” Stuart said. “The overall performance by our players, in front of 17,000 fans, was somewhat embarrassing.
Stuart hinted at possible changes to his line up for the next round against St George Illawarra, but praised the efforts of two of his most senior players.
“If the rest of the team put in similar efforts to Lance (Thompson) and Noddy (Brett Kimmorley) we wouldn’t be sitting here on the losing side,” he said. “They both busted their backsides for the team.”
Also escaping the criticism from Stuart was interchange hooker Isaac De Gois, who put in a wholehearted effort at dummy half.
“I was pleased with Isaac’s game. He did some good things for us tonight,” Stuart added.
Running with the assistance of a strong breeze and on the back of a handling error from the Sharks, followed by a holding down penalty to Souths, the visitors mounted the first attacking raid of the contest.
Throwing the ball wide David Peachey picked up a loose pass and managed to plant the ball down within millimetres of the corner post for the first scoring play of the night. Joe Williams converted from touch and Souths led 6-0.
With Souths enjoying the better field position, they again camped deep inside the Sharks half of the field and once more it was a former Shark who would score. Another backline passing movement saw Nathan Merritt the recipient with the speedy winger scampering 10 metres to score.
Almost from the kick off the Rabbits were in again with prop Peter Cusack busting through some brittle Sharks defence before finding Peachey, then hooker Daniel Irvine in support, in what was a spectacular 70-metre try. When Williams converted, Souths had jumped out to a commanding 16-0 advantage.
The Sharks managed to stand firm against further Souths onslaughts and when they were able to build some pressure of their own, they started to work their way back into the match. After some enterprising lead-up play a perfectly weighted Brett Kimmorley cross kick was plucked out of the air by winger Luke Covell for the Sharks first try of the match.
Just when the Sharks looked like creating some momentum, it was Souths, against the run of play, who would extend their lead courtesy of a 75-metre solo effort from Merritt.
The Souths flyer stepped through brittle Sharks defence and out-sprinted the cover defenders to score in the corner.
The teams went to the break with Souths ahead 20-4.
Now with the southerly behind them, the Sharks were able to camp inside the Souths end of the field and force their opponents to defend their goal line in the first period of the second half. Their persistence was rewarded after 15 minutes of trying when hooker De Gois spotted a small opening and snuck over from dummy half. Covell added the extras and the Sharks had given themselves a glimmer of hope at 20-10 behind.
Those hopes however were all but dashed when Dustin Cooper made an error retrieving a kick off his own goal line and Souths second rower David Kidwell was able to step past a couple of Sharks defenders to go over untouched. Williams converted and Souths had assumed a match-winning 26-10 lead.
Lance Thompson looked like he had narrowed the margin just four minutes later, however the video referee denied the try and Souths stayed 16 points in front.
Souths would repel the Sharks attacking raids until a consolation try to Fraser Anderson in the closing moments put some respectability into the scoreline.
As well as Kimmorley, tireless backrower Thompson and hooker De Gois, the Sharks were well served by Anderson on the wing and Phil Leuluai coming off the bench.
In the earlier matches it was a similar story for the Sharks with all four preliminary games going the way of the visiting teams.
In the Premier League, up against a North Sydney side full of players with first grade experience, including highly paid Kiwi international Joe Galuvao, the Sharks battled hard but were eventually overrun by the Bears, going down by 28-12.
On a positive note Mitch Brown continued his comeback from off-season groin surgery and played strongly, while Paul Stephenson had probably his best game in Sharks colours, scoring a smart solo try while running and tackling strongly.
In the forwards Jacob Selmes toiled hard, while hooker Brett Finn made a number of incisive darts out of dummy half, one of those runs resulting in a try adjacent to the uprights.
In the Jersey Flegg the Sharks slumped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Souths Juniors, giving up an early 18-point lead before going down 32-24. The Sharks struggled to control the ball and the big Souths forwards in the second half, with the visitors running in five second half tries.
Local junior Daniel Sayegh, five eighth Zac Mullane and half back Quincy To’o To’o were among the Sharks best.
On a huge day of football, the under-16 Matthews Cup and under-18 SG Ball sides were also in action, with both going down to Illawarra.
The Sharks will attempt to regroup for next week’s local derby against St George Illawarra, with that match scheduled for Monday night.
