Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Rd 2: Sharks tune up for Vegas in style

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Thursday February 13
Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Round 2

Raiders v Sharks at GIO Stadium

No major injuries

Key takeaways

• The addition of Addin Fonua-Blake (103 metres, 5 tackle breaks) gives the Sharks enviable forward depth that gives them a real shot at their second premiership. Oregon Kaufusi, Tom Hazelton, Briton Nikora, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Cam McInnes and Tuku Hau Tapuha all had some good moments in the thumping win.
• The Raiders looked good early with Kaeo Weekes, Ethan Strange and Jamal Fogarty and Pasami Saulo looking good but they lost their way in the second half as errors crept in and a 7-2 penalty count made the going tough.

Full-time: Cronulla come away from the national capital with a 40-10 win on the back of a powerful forward display and some classy touches from Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall. The Sharks picked up two bonus points for 5+ plus tries and 5+ line breaks.

77 min: The Sharks put the finishing touches on an impressive win with a try to Chris Vea'ila courtesy of a classy assist from Riley Pollard. Sharks 40-10.

68 min: A dropped ball by Raiders back-rower Morgan Smithies is followed up by another from Adam Cook and the Sharks cash in through Tuku Hau Tapuha who storms over from close range. Dan Atkinson converts to make it 36-10.

60 min: Will Kennedy and Braydon Trindall join the Sharks' other big guns on the sideline while Jamal Fogarty, Hudson Young and Josh Papali'i are among the Raiders stars sitting out the second half.

51 min: Another Sharks bomb, this time by Braydon Trindall, is spilled by the Raiders and Jesse Ramien scoops the ball up to score. Trindall knocks over his fourth conversion for a 30-10 lead.

48 min: Nicho Hynes launches a bomb from 45m out which is spilled by Jensen Taumoepeau and Braydon Trindall picks up the scraps to score. Hynes immediately leaves the field along with Blayke Brailey and Ronaldo Mulitalo as Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon wraps his stars in cotton wool for Vegas. Sharks 24-10.

46 min: Addin Fonua-Blake powers over from 18 metres out for his first try in Sharks colours. The trademark AFB try makes it 18-10 with Braydon Trindall's conversion.

44 min: Another rainbow pass from Nicho Hynes puts it on a platter for Sam Stonestreet who puts the ball down with the line open.

Half-time: The Sharks head to the sheds with a two-point advantage with wingers Sam Stonestreet and Ronaldo Mulitalo combining for 177 metres and three tackle breaks while Ethan Strange chalked up 80 run metres for Canberra.

37 min: A pearler of a pass by Nicho Hynes over the top to Sam Stonestreet gives the Sharks their second try and Braydon Trindall converts for a 12-10 Cronulla lead.

25 min: The Sharks hit back with newly re-signed winger Ronaldo Mulitalo tapping a bomb back to Nicho Hynes who strolls over to score and converts to close the gap to 10-6.

20 min: A mistake by Matty Nicholson hands the Sharks a great chance to hit back but another 'roll ball' penalty against Briton Nikora sees the opportunity go begging.

13 min: A second try to the Raiders with a Jamal Fogarty bomb finishing up in the hands of Seb Kris to plant the ball down in the left corner. Fogarty's conversion attempt hits the post. Raiders 10-0.

9 min: The Raiders come up with a length of the field special to open the scoring. Kaeo Weekes collected a kick on his own tryline and beat several defenders before finding Ethan Strange in support to race away and score. Jamal Fogarty converts for a 6-0 lead.

6 min: The first 'roll ball' penalty of the night goes against Canberra's Hudson Young for failing to make contact with the ball. Shark Addin Fonua-Blake is pinged for the same offence in the next set.

7.52pm: We're underway in Canberra with the Raiders kicking off. The Sharks' star recruit Addin Fonua-Blake takes the third hit-up and then the first penalty of the night comes for a high shot by Josh Papali'i on Will Kennedy.

7.40pm: Raiders coach Ricky Stuart explains on Fox League that the reason he left Joe Tapine and Corey Horsburgh out of the side is that "they don't need the hit-out. I think we train hard enough and there's enough collision at training that I don't want to risk them."

6.55pm Both sides will go into the clash as named on Tuesday, with no late changes. It's a mild 25 degrees in Canberra and a fast track should ensure plenty of open football as the Raiders and Sharks look to build on last week's first hit-out.