The Cronulla Sharks are anxiously awaiting the judiciary report from the match review committee following two players being placed on report during their victory over the Roosters. Blayke Brailey, who had an impressive performance, found himself in a precarious position when he was reported after a tackle on Billy Smith while leading 14-6. Although Brailey executed what appeared to be a clean tackle in the 20th minute, the Bunker decided to intervene. Smith hit the ground hard and subsequently failed his head injury assessment (HIA).
Fox League commentator Michael Ennis expressed his disbelief regarding the decision, stating, “It’s a great tackle under the ball, and lands on his shoulder. What are we looking at?” Ennis noted Smith’s unfortunate luck with injuries, highlighting his rough history.
Post-match, Roosters coach Trent Robinson voiced his frustration over the incident, questioning whether Smith’s concussion resulted from an illegal tackle, which not only cost his team a vital interchange but also led to a penalty.
Additionally, the Sharks faced another situation when Addin Fonua-Blake was reported for a shoulder charge on Lindsay Collins; however, he only received a penalty for his actions.
In terms of game dynamics, the Sharks started dominantly at Shark Park, with William Kennedy breaking through the Roosters’ defence. Daniel Tupou responded for the Roosters with a remarkable try, but the Sharks built a solid lead at 20-6, thanks to tries from Teig Wilton and Nicho Hynes. The Roosters managed to claw back to 20-12 by halftime with James Tedesco’s try.
Compounding the Sharks’ woes, Briton Nikora had to exit the match due to an HIA. The Roosters narrowed the gap to 20-18 after Angus Crichton scored in the second half, but the Sharks retaliated with tries from Billy Burns and Chris Vea’ila, ultimately sealing the game at 31-18 thanks to a field goal from Braydon Trindall.
The Roosters also left the match with concerns over Victor Radley, who was observed nursing a shoulder issue. Coach Robinson remained hopeful, suggesting that it might be a minor concern as Radley appeared to be carrying the injury towards the end of the game.