The game was marked by intense defense from both sides until the Sharks broke through in the 55th minute, leading to a series of additional tries and a field goal by Nicho Hynes, extending their lead.
The first half was chocker full of tension and aggression, resulting in warnings from referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski to both teams to control their players. The Bulldogs faced an early setback with Poasa Faamausilli leaving the field due to an injury in the opening tackle. The Sharks’ Briton Nikora received a sin-bin penalty for a late tackle, yet the Bulldogs managed to score through Blake Wilson. The Sharks however equalised before halftime.
The game remained tightly contested until the Sharks pulled away in the latter stages, with big contributions from Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo. Fox League’s Andrew Voss described the Sharks’ performance as a ‘warning shot’ to competitors, highlighting their consecutive games of shutting out opponents in the second half.
Defensive efforts were pivotal, with Blayke Brailey and Nicho Hynes, among others, leading in tackles. The Bulldogs showed promise, particularly in the first half, and demonstrated defensive resilience, although their attack needs development.
