The Sharks have sealed a 38-10 win over the Dragons in a statement performance that has seen them jump the Panthers on the ladder to move into third spot. With plenty on the line, including local derby bragging rights, the Sharks turned up in a mood — and that was made clear in Jesse Ramien’s reaction after he scored off a scrum for the first points of the game.

The Sharks were clearly the better team on the day, and their win was a testament to their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. They were able to control the tempo of the game, and they were always a threat to score, even when they were down a man.

Brailey Stars in Sharks Victory

One of the key reasons for the Sharks’ victory was the performance of hooker Blayke Brailey. He was arguably in career-best form, and he was a constant menace to the Dragons’ defense.

After doing an admirable job playing a makeshift role in the halves in the last fortnight, he returned to his preferred position at dummy-half and stole the show on Sunday. Brailey finished the game with four runs for 76 metres and a team-high of 32 tackles, one miss. But what the stats don’t show is just how potent he was on both sides of the ball.

Fox League’s Michael Ennis mentioned throughout the call that Brailey was “killing” the Dragons and had “caused all sorts of havoc through the middle.” Ennis also credited Brailey for the way he was able to get his teammates into the game with the likes of Toby Rudolf and Oregon Kaufusi both making over 100 metres.

“It’s been the work of Blayke Brailey out of dummy-half with his middle forwards… He’s been terrific, he’s been out of almost every single play the ball, taking one or two steps, bringing his forwards onto the footy,” he said. Brailey didn’t take his foot off the gas for the entire game – and even came up with a crunching one-on-one tackle on Tyrell Sloan in the final 10 minutes.

“That just tops off a man of the match performance for Blayke Brailey,” Ennis declared after the tackle. “Not only with the footy, but defensively this afternoon, he has been absolutely brilliant. He’s been Cronulla’s best… it’s been a five star performance.”

Sharks Make Statement

If Brailey was man of the match, Briton Nikora would be a close second. The star second-rower finished with a try, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, five tackle busts, 120 metres and 19 tackles.

Jesse Ramien was also involved in everything. Although he spent 10 minutes in the bin, Ramien managed to score a try and set up two more, while also getting 133 metres and making 12 tackles with no misses. It was the type of performance the Sharks needed to show they mean business.

Tight Top Eight Race

The Dragons are still in the top eight but heading into the final two games of the regular season there are four teams clipping at their heels, sitting just one win back. The 11-win Dragons’ poor point differential (-120) means they’ll almost certainly need to win their final two games - against the Eels and Raiders - to clinch a first finals berth in six years.

The Broncos, Dolphins, Knights and Raiders all sit on 10 wins and the first three have a better differential than the Dragons.

The Sharks on the other hand have leapfrogged the Panthers into third spot but it means they’ll likely run into a red-hot Roosters in the first week of finals for their troubles. The Roosters are expected to head into that clash riding a six-game winning streak and will be heavy favourites to extend more mystery on Cronulla’s poor finals record in recent years.

Looking Ahead

The Sharks’ victory over the Dragons was a big statement, but it remains to be seen if they can carry that momentum into the finals.

With a tough draw ahead, and a history of underperforming in the postseason, the Sharks will need to find a way to raise their game if they want to make a deep run.

But for now, the Sharks are enjoying the moment. They are in a good position, and they have the talent to make a run. If they can stay healthy and play with the same intensity they showed against the Dragons, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the finals.

A Look Back

With their win over the Dragons, the Sharks have solidified their position in the top four and have given themselves a chance to make a run at the premiership. However, they will need to maintain this form if they want to be a genuine contender for the title.

With the regular season coming to a close, it’s time for the Sharks to make a statement and show everyone what they are capable of.