Sharks end the Rabbitohs Season

The defending premiers South Sydney have been eliminated from the 2015 NRL Premiership by last year's wooden spooners the Cronulla Sharks by 28-12 in a dominant display in front of over 27,000 at Allianz Stadium. Cronulla now face the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville next Saturday night in another sudden death clash.

The Sharks do however face a nervous wait before boarding the plane to Townsville, with key players Michael Ennis and Wade Graham both placed on report late in the game for high tackles.

Man of the match Ennis will be under the most scrutiny for his reckless high shot in the 69th minute on Souths backrower Chris McQueen. Ennis has carry over points from prior charges, so any charge could result in Ennis missing next weekend's blockbuster in Townsville.

The loss for Souths ends a disappointing season where patchy form was further compounded with injuries to key men Greg Inglis and Adam Reynolds throughout the season. Suspensions to Isaac Luke and George Burgess late in the season made things even more difficult for the defending premiers.

There was drama for the Sharks early, when representative forward Andrew Fifita, who was returning from a 6 week suspension pulled out of the warm up with back spasms. Fifita did however finally recover and entered the field in the backend of the first half.

The game started at a fast pace and the defence was at times ferocious. This was highlighted in just the 6th minute of play when Sharks skipper Paul Gallen went down after what looked to be a possible eye gouge from Rabbitohs five eighth Luke Keary, who will surely come under the microscope of the NRL match review committee.

After a tight first 20 minutes, it was rookie of the year contender, Jack Bird who threw a dummy and burst through the line. Bird managed to push away from the Souths defence and get the ball down, despite a superb attempt from Luke Keary to hold him up. Gordon made no mistake from out wide to make it 6-0.

Sharks winger Sosaia Feki then burst through the line and was hit high by a frustrated Greg Inglis. Off the back that penalty, Sharks halfback Jeff Robson put in a deft kick which took a deflection and into the path of a leaping Wade Graham to score and extend their lead to 12-0 after Gordon added the extras.

From the first tackle off the kickoff, Souths winger Alex Johnson threw a forward pass to departing backrower Glenn Stewart. The Sharks made them pay when Michael Ennis skipped out of dummy half and found a steaming Anthony Tupou to score next to the posts. Gordon added the extras to make it 18-0 at halftime.

Souths needed to score next and came out a more determined side after the break, then they looked to be back in it when an Ennis grubber in goal was scooped up by Luke Keary who raced over 100 metres to score under the posts. Rabbitohs fans celebrations were short lived however, when Jason Clark was ruled to have obstructed Jeff Robson, prior to Keary's length of the field effort.

That was that call that ultimately broke the hearts of the Souths revival, when Cronulla where awarded a penalty right in front of the posts and then 10 minutes later it was that man Ennis again who puts a rampaging Sam Tagatese over to extend the lead in a dramatic eight point turnaround from the disallowed try.

Sharks skipper Paul Gallen then made a damaging 40 metre run and was collected high from Inglis who yet again went on report. Michael Gordon added another two points and Cronulla were out to a commanding 28-0 lead.

Souths managed two consolation tries in the final 12 minutes through centre Dylan Walker and second rower Chris Grevsmuhl to bring some respectability to the final scoreline of 28-12.

Cronulla now face the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville in order to advance their inaugural premiership chances next week. The reigning premiers South Sydney end their season in disappointment for 2015 after some outstanding early season form which included winning the Auckland 9's as well as the World Club Challenge.

Match Details

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 28 South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Crowd: 27031
Halftime Score: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (28)
Tries: Jack Bird, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou, Sam Tagataese
Conversions: Michael Gordon (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (2/2)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (12)
Tries: Dylan Walker, Chris Grevsmuhl
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Michael Ennis
2 points - Wade Graham
1 point - Paul Gallen

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to our last Semi Final of the weekend and it's sudden death with 6th placed Cronulla Sharks facing the 7th placed South Sydney Rabbitohs from Allianz Stadium. It is a beautiful afternoon for football and conditions are perfect for an open and attacking game.

Cronulla are 1-17 and welcome back Andrew Fifita from suspension in a huge boost.

South Sydney have one positional change with Chris Grevsmuhl starting the match for the experienced Glenn Stewart who will start on the pine.

The winner of this match will go on to play North Queensland next Saturday night in Townsville, the loser will face Mad Monday tomorrow.

This will be an absolute blockbuster, so stay tuned on League Unlimited for all the action!

Sharks backrower Jayson Bukuya plays his 100th NRL game today.

Dave Tyrrell is the sole survivor from the starting forward pack who also started in their 2014 Grand Final win.

Souths winger Alex Johnson scored a try in every finals game he has played in (2014 finals series) and has scored 17 tries so far in 2015.

We are underway at Allianz Stadium!

1: Nervous start from Valentine Holmes who lets a towering bomb from Adam Reynolds bounce. He manages to make it out of his in goal.

2: Injury update - Andrew Fifita left the warm up with back spasms. Currently in the sheds.

3: Micheal Ennis belts Adam Reynolds in a great front on tackle. Reynolds responds with a perfect grubber on the last and Feki is trapped in goal. Great start for the Rabbits!

4: Penalty Souths - Ennis strips the ball from Tom Burgess from the re-start. Souths on the attack!

6: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Adam Reynolds makes an unforced error.
Adam Reynolds drops it cold on the last and Ennis lets him know about and there is a scrap! Plenty of feeling early.

6: Sharks skipper Paul Gallen goes down and replays suggest that there has been a possible eye gouge from five eighth Luke Keary.

6: Penalty Sharks - That didn't look good for Luke Keary...it's on report. Sharks on the attack.

7: Cross field bomb from Jack Bird is brilliantly taken by Bryson Goodwin. Souths off the hook.

8: Penalty Sharks - Souths not getting back 10m. Sharks tap 20m out.

9: Great grubber in the in goal by Wade Graham which forces Greg Inglis to force it dead. Dropout Souths.

11: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jack Bird makes an unforced error.
Sharks on the attack and Jack Bird puts it down. Huge let off for the Bunnies.

13: Penalty Sharks - Valentine Holmes and Michael Gordon let another bomb bounce and it's almost a disaster, however the Souths chasers are ruled to be offside.

14: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Michael Gordon makes an unforced error.
Gordon almost slices through from an inside ball but loses the ball one on one. Souths continue to absorb the pressure.

15: Michael Ennis puts in a grubber behind the line but again Bryson Goodwin saves the day.

16: Penalty Souths - Sharks not getting back the 10m.

18: Adam Reynolds almost steps through to score but is brought down 10m short. Auva'a takes the next hit up and goes very close but it's the 5th and change over to Cronulla.

19: Penalty Cronulla - Souths not clearing the ruck. Ennis finds touch just short of halfway.

20: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jack Bird. Kick to come.
Jack Bird dummies and bursts through the line. Luke Keary almost holds him up, but he muscles his way over for the first try! Cronulla 4-0 kick to come.

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon nails it 15m in from touch. Cronulla lead 6-0.

25: Greg Inglis is down injured in back play.

26: Penalty Sharks - Souths not getting back 10m. Sharks 10m out on the attack.

26: Bird goes for a grubber on the last but it's a poor kick.

27: Injury update - Inglis ok at this stage but isn't 100%. Still no Andrew Fifita.

29: Souths on the attack close to the line and kick low towards the in goal but Paul Gallen dives on the scraps.

29: Andrew Fifita is warming up on the sideline.

31: Sosaia Feki bursts through and Greg Inglis wraps him up but then collects him high with a second effort. Penalty Sharks, 20m out.

32: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Wade Graham. Kick to come.
Deft grubber from Jeff Robson and he finds a leaping Wade Graham for a superb try! Sharks lead 10-0 kick to come.

32: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Michael Gordon adds the extras, it's Cronulla 12 Souths 0.

33: Andrew Fifita gets an offload away and Paul Gallen makes a strong run just short of halfway. Cronulla are motoring along at the moment.

34: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Alex Johnston makes an unforced error.
Tackle 1 and Alex Johnson throws a forward pass to Glenn Stewart. This could be painful.

35: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Anthony Tupou. Kick to come.
Anthony Tupou steams onto a superb ball from Michael Ennis. Sharks lead 16-0 with a kick to come from in front.

37: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon makes no mistake. Sharks lead 18-0.

38: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jack Bird makes an unforced error.
Bird knocks on from the kickoff! Huge chance for Souths!

39: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Greg Inglis makes an unforced error.
Inglis is through but spills the ball from Stewart which was a bit behind him. Opportunity lost for Souths.

40: It's 18 nil to Cronulla at halftime and it's been a very impressive display from last years Wooden Spooner's over the 2014 Premiers. Cronulla have been in total control in the back end of the first half and have scored 3 classy tries to Jack Bird, Wade Graham and Anthony Tupou to leave the Bunnies season on life support. While it was an arm wrestle for the first 20 minutes, the Sharks have left Souths behind, who must score next if they are any hope of getting back in this game.

40: The Second Half is underway! Can Souths keep their season alive?

42: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Andrew Fifita makes an unforced error.
Fifita tries to milk a penalty and knocks on. Good call referee! Souths on the attack 20m out.

43: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Adam Reynolds makes an unforced error.
Glenn Stewart offloads and Adam Reynolds drops it cold with the line open!

44: Despite Greg Inglis not being 100% he still looks dangerous.

45: Penalty Sharks - Lifting tackle from Paul Carter. Sharks tap 40m inside their own half.

46: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Michael Gordon makes an unforced error.
Gordon puts it down with the Sharks on the attack.

47: Souths go close and Goodwin grubbers close to the line but it's snatched by Holmes who takes off up field and brought down on halfway.

48: Robson puts in a perfect kick to end the set and the Sharks trap Walker in goal.

49: Ennis grubbers in goal and Luke Keary picks it up and runs 100 metres to score under the posts! Video Ref - NO TRY! Clark ruled to have obstructed a Sharks defender! Rough call for mine....and heartbreaking for the Bunnies. Penalty Sharks next to the posts.

50: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon makes it 20-0. Heartbreaking stuff for Souths fans. Will this break their spirit?

51: Michael Gordon fumbles from the kickoff...but it's ruled knock back! Horrible call!

54: Ben Barba has come on in #14 and immediately looks dangerous chipping over the top for Feki. Souths force it dead. Line dropout.

56: Sharks kick for the corner and again Bryson Goodwin saves the day. 20m tap for Souths.

58: Souths on the attack and Reynolds kicks for Inglis but Bird jumps high to take the pressure off for his side.

59: Sharks get 6 more 10m out from the tryline. Souths just holding on.

59: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Paul Carter makes an unforced error.
Carter picks up an Ennis grubber but knocks on when playing the ball.

61: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Sam Tagataese. Kick to come.
Michael Ennis again sets up a try close to the line and big Sam Tagatese crashes over! Sharks lead 24-0 kick to come 15m in from the touchline.

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon makes it 5 from 5. That is surely it!

64: Penalty Sharks - Paul Gallen goes charging through and Inglis brings him down 20m out but collects him high. Will go on report and could get a charge for that.

64: And they have taken the Sharks skipper off for a well deserved spell. Super effort from Gallen.

64: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon takes the 2 points on offer. Cronulla lead 28-0.

67: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Kick to come.
Greg Inglis catches the ball from a short kickoff. They spread it wide and Dylan Walker scores the Bunnies first try.

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds takes the quick kick. Sharks 28-6.

69: Penalty Souths - Ennis collects McQueen high and it goes on report...nervous wait now for the Sharks.

70: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
David Tyrrell makes an unforced error.
Tyrrell loses it cold. Sharks scrum 20m out from their own line.

70: Tom Burgess hits Ennis late but it's not penalised. Bit of niggle.

71: Anthony Tupou picks up the ball from his own 20m line and makes the slowest getaway of all time, he is finallypulled down by a walking Greg Inglis 30m out.

72: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Chris Grevsmuhl makes an unforced error.
Grevsmuhl spills it early in the count. Sharks on the attack yet again.

73: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Andrew Fifita makes an unforced error.
Fifita brushes away from 3 defenders and then drops it cold as he was about to score.

75: Penalty Sharks - Graham collects Stewart high. Sloppy tackle.

76: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Chris Grevsmuhl. Kick to come.
Grevsmuhl busts the line for a consulation try.

76: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds adds the extras and its Cronulla leading 28-12.

77: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Kyle Turner makes an unforced error.
Souths throwing the ball around and Turner puts it down.

80: It's fulltime! It's Up, Up Cronulla! They win 28-12 over the defending premiers.

80: It's Up, Up Cronulla as the Sharks have knocked out the defending premiers in an outstanding performance. The Sharks jumped out to a 18-0 lead at halftime and continued to control the second half to win 28-12. The win sees the Sharks play the Cowboys in Townsville next Saturday.