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The Sharks have come away with a 38-16 victory over the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s side have now locked in second place and a home final against the Cowboys on the back of Briton Nikora’s “dangerous” hattrick.
The gun backrower opened the scoring, with dummy-half Blayke Brailey spotting space on the right side of the field allowing the Kiwi international to reach and ground the ball.
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Knights fullback Tex Hoy then hit back, dancing off the right foot to slice through the defence untouched from a scrum.
“He has been there best player so far, he has looked dangerous, he does it on his own from the scrumbase,” Fox League’s Steve Roach said.
Cronulla young gun Luke Metcalf then showed off his blistering speed, scooping up an Adam Clune grubber to score from 90-metres out.
“Metcalf scoops it up, and away he goes the young man, he does it in a canter,” Roach said.
Dominic Young did his best to respond, reeling in a Nicho Hynes pass to streak away for a 90-metre effort of his own to score.
Nikora then scored his second early in the second half, before star winger Ronaldo Mulitalo burned Dominic Young to cross again.
“He really looks like he loves it, always smiling,” Roach said.
The Knights were able to break away and score again through Young, but their joy would end there.
Sharks centre Jesse Ramien scored yet another intercept, before Briton Nikora completed his hattrick with a burrowing run.
“The first of his career as well, proving what a dangerous player he can be on the right edge for the Sharks,” Voss said.
Lachie Miller scored in the dying stages of the contest after Siosifa Talakai left the field with an ankle injury.
Knights forward Mat Croker was sent to the bin for a hip drop tackle following the blow.
Re-live all the action below!
55TH MINUTE
Knights halfback Adam Clune has orchestrated a Dominic Young try to put his side back into the equation.
Edrick Lee reeled in an intercept from a Nicho Hynes pass before Clune found his winger on the right side of the field to score.
“The Knights way back in it,” Voss said.
But, Sharks centre Jesse Ramien hit back with an intercept try of his own to hand his side a dominant lead before Briton Nikora completed his hattrick.
“The first of his career as well, proving what a dangerous player he can be on the right edge for the Sharks,” Voss said.
42ND MINUTE
The Sharks have scored the first of the second half, with Nicho Hynes finding barnstorming backrower Briton Nikora.
Moments later, Ronaldo Mulitalo burned his outside man to score another try and hand his side a dominant 12-point lead.
“He really looks like he loves it, always smiling,” Roach said.
Cronulla now look certain to finish in second place and book a home final.
30TH MINUTE
Sharks young gun Luke Metcalf has scored a 90-metre runaway try in his first NRL appearance this year.
The 23-year-old scooped up an Adam Clune grubber to burn the incoming defenders.
“Metcalf scoops it up, and away he goes the young man, he does it in a canter,” Roach said.
Moments later, Knights flyer Dominic Young struck back with a full-field intercept try of his own to level the score.
20TH MINUTE
Knights fullback Tex Hoy has sliced through the Sharks defensive line with a lethal right foot step to score his side’s first.
Off the back of a scrum, Hoy was able to cross nearly untouched.
“He has been there best player so far, he has looked dangerous, he does it on his own from the scrumbase,” Roach said.
“He has got good pace, scores under the post.”
11TH MINUTE
The Sharks have opened the scoring with a smart piece of work from Blayke Brailey to take a 6-0 lead.
Cronulla’s dummy-half spotted Enari Tuala charging off the Knights tryline, hitting Briton Nikora will a short ball who stretched out to score.
“Nikora plunges over for Cronulla,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said.
PRE-MATCH WRAP
The Newcastle Knights host the Cronulla Sharks in a crucial clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Anthony Milford is out with a rib injury, with Phoenix Crossland coming in at five-eighth.
Mat Croker comes into the starting side with Sauaso Sue dropping out, while Chris Randall replaces Jayden Brailey who has been sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Dale Finucane will be rested until the finals.
Braydon Trindall is out with Luke Metcalf coming onto the bench.
The Sharks can wrap up second spot on the ladder with a win, ehile the Knights are playing for pride looking to end a tough season on a high in front of their long-suffering fans.
TEAMS
Knights: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 20. Enari Tuala 5. Dominic Young 6. Phoenix Crossland 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 14. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Mathew Croker 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Jack Johns 18. Simi Sasagi 22. Hymel Hunt
Sharks: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Matt Ikuvalu 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Teig Wilton 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Luke Metcalf 19. Jesse Colquhoun
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