Match Highlights: Sharks v Dragons
MATCH REPORT
Sharks come from behind to down Dragons
Author
Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Fri 12 Feb 2021, 07:50 PM
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Teenage Dragons halfback Jayden Sullivan enhanced his NRL claims but Braydon Trindall and Luke Metcalf inspired the Sharks to a 36-28 trial win on Friday evening.
In the first match of 2021, limited to those who played 12 or fewer first-grade games in 2020, Cronulla overcame a 22-20 half-time deficit to run out seven-tries-to-five winners at PointsBet Stadium.
Uncapped former Sea Eagle Metcalf, a Sharks junior who spent the game at fullback but can also play in the halves, produced three sublime try assists with pinpoint passing selection.
Halfback Trindall, with five NRL appearances to his name, displayed his skillset as he set up multiple tries and scored one himself in warm conditions.
But the first half belonged to St George Illawarra's Sullivan, the 19-year-old who debuted against Melbourne in round 20 last year.
Match: Sharks v Dragons
Round 1 - Friday 12th February
Full Time
Home Team
Sharks
Scored 36 points
Away Team
Dragons
Scored 28 points
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
The talented playmaker conjured up the opening four-pointer with a delightful inside ball to fullback Tyrell Sloan, then crossed himself in the following set after supporting hooker Tyran Wishart – son of Steelers great Rod – on a long-range break.
Sullivan kicked extremely well in general play and didn't shirk his task in defence, often leading the chase downfield and hitting with strong contact.
He could come into contention for coach Anthony Griffin's round one team with incumbent five-eighth Corey Norman awaiting a potential sanction from the NRL Integrity Unit over an off-field incident.
Established names including Tariq Sims, Daniel Alvaro, Kaide Ellis, Brayden Wiliame and Jackson Ford ran around for the Dragons alongside fringe and NSW Cup players.
Winger Nene Macdonald was Cronulla's most experienced man with lock Billy Magoulias, centre Mawene Hiroti, Trindall and prop Daniel Vasquez the only others to have played NRL.
Sullivan sets up Sloan
Sullivan sets up Sloan
Former Wigan Warriors forward Gabe Hamlin, who has signed with Sharks feeder team Newtown, came off the interchange and set up a try.
As is customary for a clash on a balmy February night, there were errors aplenty and some loose defence from both teams in the attack-fest.
After St George Illawarra's hot start, Macdonald got Cronulla on the board by finishing a well-worked sweep play on the left edge.
But he then coughed up possession coming out of danger and Jaiyden Hunt pounced for the Dragons, extending their lead.
Cronulla edged closer again when Trindall perfectly lofted a cut-out pass for former Knights and Warriors player Kayal Iro, son of Kevin, to go over out wide.
The Sharks No.7 was involved as his team scored again, linking with the speedy Metcalf who found second-rower Teig Wilton with a short ball. He showed great footwork to reach the in-goal.
The frenetic end-to-end nature of the fixture continued and the Dragons landed the next blow when highly-rated five-eighth Junior Amone placed a grubber that prop Josh Coric grounded in the nick of time.
Once more Metcalf came to the fore, shooting the Steeden to Macdonald's flank and the Papua New Guinean flyer grabbed a double against his former club to make it 22-20 just prior to the break.
Hamlin busted the line to begin the second term and generously handed the ball back to Trindall, who had put him into a hole.
Metcalf kept up his impressive night with another long ball that sent Kayal Iro – the son of former Warrior Kevin – over the stripe.
Hiroti pushed Cronulla further ahead before Connor muhleisen burrowed his way over from dummy-half for St George Illawarra's only second-half points.
Wilton hits a hole
https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2021/02/12/sharks-come-from-behind-to-down-dragons/
, I mean from this game.
