Braydon Trindall delivered a masterclass performance on his 27th birthday, inspiring Cronulla Sharks to a club-record 66-0 demolition of the Dolphins and lifting his side into the NRL top four.
Dominant First Half
The classy playmaker controlled the game with elite passing and kicking, guiding the visitors to a 24-0 halftime lead at Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe on Saturday. The Sharks' forwards laid the platform, powering over the Dolphins to silence the home crowd.
Cronulla, who scored 50-plus points for the first time against a Queensland-based team in Queensland, continued the carnage in the second half. The fifth-placed Dolphins conceded 50 points at their home ground for the second time this season, having previously lost 52-18 to Manly in Round 5.
Hynes Makes History
Sharks half Nicho Hynes scored the most points by a Cronulla player in a single match with 30, including two tries and 11 goals. His haul surpassed the previous club record.
There were concerns for Queensland and Dolphins forward Max Plath, who left the field in the 48th minute with an ankle injury after a hip-drop style tackle by Cameron McInnes. The incident may come under scrutiny from the match review committee.
Dolphins' Embarrassing Display
The Dolphins, kept scoreless for the first time in their history, were a huge disappointment in front of the Redcliffe faithful. “I am shocked. People talking about them being a possible premiership threat, it is going up in smoke right here,” NRL great and The Agenda Setters panellist Luke Keary said.
The Dolphins will still be without co-captain and star half Isaiya Katoa (arm) for at least next Sunday's home clash with North Queensland. His absence is notable, with replacement Brad Schneider lacking the creativity of an elite playmaker. Schneider was not to blame for the loss, as his teammates made errors and missed tackles with regularity.
Trindall Shines
Trindall had all the tricks in his bag. A crafty grubber set up centre KL Iro for the visitors' second try. Winger Sione Katoa notched a third, courtesy of a Will Kennedy grubber. Trindall was the provider for winger Ronaldo Mulitalo with a loopy cutout pass that soared over the heads of two Cronulla attackers and two helpless Dolphins defenders.
After the break, Trindall and Hynes combined to send Iro over for his second to reassert the Sharks' dominance. Jesse Ramien rumbled through terrible Dolphins defence, Trindall scored one of his own, Hynes touched down, and Katoa got his second. Cronulla prop Tom Hazleton burst through to bring up 50 points, and Hynes notched his second to take it to 60.
Trindall also made two try-saving tackles in the second half on Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako, capping a brilliant all-round match.
Key Moments
- Sharks forward Oregon Kaufusi crashed over in his 150th NRL match after Dolphins prop Thomas Flegler lost the ball over the tryline at the other end.
- Cronulla scored 66 points, a club record, and their highest ever against a Queensland-based team in Queensland.
- The Dolphins have now conceded 50 points twice at home this season.
