Hodgson heroics help Canberra crush Cronulla

v BYE

A dominant first half performance from Josh Hodgson paved the way for a big 30-14 Canberra win over Cronulla in front of 15,133 fans at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

Having gone down to the Sharks 40-16 earlier this year, the Raiders would exact revenge becoming the first side to topple the Sharks in their own playground in 2016.

The clash between the Raiders and Sharks was highly anticipated with two Top 4 sides battling it out with the two points equally important to both.

The Sharks would look to cement their spot atop of the NRL Ladder, whilst the Raiders hoped to reaffirm their premiership credentials and spot in the top four. It was the Sharks who grabbed the early lead after a high shot from Elliot Whitehead gifted the home side with an easy 2 points.

And it would appear as if Chad Townsend would add to the Sharks tally with Brenko Lee slipping over and fumbling what was an otherwise meagre Luke Lewis kick. The Bunker, however, overruled on the infield decision with Townsend correctly officiated as offside by the slimmest of margins.

And in the 10th minute the Raiders struck back, to the dismay of the home fans. A towering bomb would see Jordan Rapana claim the away side's first points of the night. It was an unpopular decision with the locals, with Rapana's hands slowly slipping away from the ball. Nevertheless, the Bunker found enough evidence to award the four pointer.

The Sharks, however, responded accordingly and Maloney sliced through for a simple try. Yet it was Hodgson who would dominate the opening half, and his first contribution came in the 22nd minute, with a simple ball to Wighton seeing the Canberra fullback crash over all too easily. And off the back of that, Hodgson appeared again, flashing through the Sharks' defence and putting through a perfectly weighted grubber for Rapana to pounce on in the corner. Croker added the two points shortly after and despite threatening late, the Sharks would head into the break down 20-8. 

Canberra started the second half in similar fashion, adding the two points from close range and extending the lead to 14 points.

A mistake from Joseph Leilua, however, invited the Sharks back into it, with a Fifita offload seeing Paul Gallen barge over to reduce the deficit.

It would all be in vain however, with Blake Austin breaking through and stepping around seemingly the whole Sharks side to score an important try.

Austin, however, failed to return with a shoulder injury abruptly ending his night. The Sharks had showed promise all night yet once again execution would cost the home side from clawing back the lead with Sosaia Feki ruled to have put a foot out in the 62nd minute after his four pointer to-be was sent to the Bunker.

Croker continued to build upon Canberra's lead, striking another penalty goal to put his side in front by 16 with fifteen to go. That would be all she wrote in the end, with the Raiders defending valiantly to hold out the Sharks late and claim a big 30-14 win. 

The Sharks will look to put their disappointment behind them and set their sight back on the Minor Premiership when they face St George Illawarra next Saturday night at UOW Jubilee Oval. Meanwhile, the Raiders will look to make it seven straight against Cronulla's rivals for the JJ Giltinan Shield - Melbourne. You can follow that one on Monday night at a cold GIO Stadium.