Match Centre

And that's the game! The Sharks hold on (just) to win the game. It was a gutsy performance, after the Sharks lost Carney early in the game, leaving Robson as the only playmaker. They'll be stoked with that win.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

With only ten seconds left, Gallen has a headclash with Nigel Plum, and has a lot of blood coming from a head wound.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

The Sharks will just be wanting to control the ball for the next minute - they can't afford anything silly.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

And it's NO TRY! The Sharks maintain the lead with only 59 seconds remaining!

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

We're going to the video referee again - this time for a possible Panthers try!. We have a possible obstruction - it looks like Adam Docker has stopped in the defensive line, taking Graham out of the play.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

The Panthers have numbers out to the left, but a great tackle from Robson shuts down the play.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

A short kick off from the Panthers, and the Sharks lose the ball. The Panthers will get another attacking opportunity in good field position.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24-20

Amazing stuff from the Sharks there! We're going to the video referee, but Robson looks to have scored! It was some quick hands and great catching that led to the opportunity.

Penrith Panthers 20-18

The Panthers kick low downfield, and the ball ricochets off a Sharks player and goes over the sideline. The Sharks get the scrum feed.

Penrith Panthers 20-18

Robson kicks high on the last, Beau Ryan takes the ball, but can't get a pass away back in field before being bundled into touch.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18-14

And now, in the very next set, the Sharks look to have scored! Gordon chased through a high Robson kick, and out-leapt Moylan to take the ball. We're checking the offside, but it looks like a try!

Penrith Panthers 14-12

On the last, the Panthers kick to the right sideline - Simmons comes down with the ball, but his foot just touches out of the field of play before he can flick the ball back in field. The Panthers are screaming for the referee to have a look at it, but he doesn't want a bar of it.

Penrith Panthers 14-12

The Panthers looking to extend their lead now - Segeyaro probes around from dummy half, but can't find a gap.

Penrith Panthers 14-12

The battle between Fifita and Grant continues - on this occasion the Sharks are penalised as Fifita takes way too long to get off the tackle. Soward will line up a penalty kick from right in front to take the lead.

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Double knock on now, against the Sharks first. The Panthers will get a scrum feed from their own 20 metre line. The Sharks completion rate in this game is abysmal, and of the sets that they have completed, probably 25% of them have been ineffective last tackle options.

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Fifita gets a penalty for his team, and is looking plenty fired up at his opposite number, Tim Grant.

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It's a NO TRY - Docker puts his foot onto the ball after playing the ball, and forces a knock on at dummy half. Josh Mansour isn't happy, and also looks to have picked up a shoulder injury during the play.

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Wallace kicks to the left of the field for Josh Mansour, who takes the ball and slams it down over the tryline. We're going to the video referee to check if there was a knock on at dummy half.

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The Panthers look to test out the Sharks right side defence this time, before sending the ball back to the left on the fourth. Peachey steps one, two, three men, before being dragged down in a desperate tackle.

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And now Michael Gordon has dropped to the ground. The trainer is testing the stability of his already strapped left knee.

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Segeyaro tries to split the defence again, he's causing some big problems for some of the Sharks tired defenders.

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Wade Graham looks to be injured now - he's on the ground with what looks like a hip problem.

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From the kickoff, Andrew Fifita crashes the ball back into the defence. He then plays the ball with the top of his boot, and is penalised.

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20 metre tap, and the Sharks run the ball down field, before gaining a penalty. Some brilliant scramble defence from the Sharks, and they now line up a penalty kick to even up the game.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

Segeyaro makes a massive break down the right side of the field, before coming back in field. Soward is trapped with the ball on the third, before Idris runs across field on the fourth. It looked like an obstruction play from Idris, but the referees don't say anything. Wallace kicks high on the last, but the Sharks take the ball from within their own in goal.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

The Panthers run the ball off a scrum, but throw a forward pass that floats over the sideline. The Sharks get a scrum feed 10 metres out from their own line.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

Sharks throwing a lot of offloads, but they aren't making a lot of ground. They kick high on the last, but Idris runs a block, and Beau Ryan can't get a hand to the ball.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

The Sharks look to take the play down the left side of the field again, but John Morris throws a forward pass. The Sharks are really struggling with their last tackle options so far in this half.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

The Panthers send the ball right, Simmons takes the ball and looks to make a break but is wrapped up in a heavy tackle. The Sharks get the ball, miraculously, after Beau Ryan let the kick bounce.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

The Sharks kick high on the last, but it's way too deep and the Panthers field the ball easily in goal.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

Back underway. The Sharks get a penalty, and are on attack from within the Panthers 30 metres.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

Teams are back on the field for the second half.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

Half time here in the Shire. The Panthers lead by two points, after looking in control for most of the first half. For the Sharks, Todd Carney has left the field with an injured hamstring. Elijah Taylor has also left the field with a medial ligament strain.

Penrith Panthers 12-10

Gallen throws a short ball to Heighington. Robson grubbers to the left, and it's cleaned up by Segeyaro, but he has the ball raked a second later. Robson then passes to the left of the field, and the Sharks look to have scored. We're just double checking with the video referee.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

The Panthers look to tiring in the last few minutes. The Sharks need to get points in this set.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

The Sharks get penalised, and Soward kicks downfield.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

Gallen looks to be struggling - clutching his shoulder.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

The Panthers attempt an inside-out play, the inside ball to Moylan is a gem, but Moylan drops the ball while attempting to score the try.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

The Panthers are penalised - Moylan is ruled to have tackled Michael Gordon in mid air. The Sharks kick down field, and will take the tap from their own 30m line.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

Jamal Idris has knocked the ball on - pressure off the Sharks.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

Elijah Taylor has also left the field with what looks like a medial ligament strain.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

Wallace kicks to the right side of the field again, putting massive pressure on Sosaia Feki. He takes the ball, but is almost instantly dragged over the touchline. The Panthers will get the ball back in prime attackign position.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

Wallace kicks to the right side of the field again, putting massive pressure on Sosaia Feki. He takes the ball, but is almost instantly dragged over the touchline. The Panthers will get the ball back in prime attackign position.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

Injury update, Carney is in the sheds getting his hamstring tended to.

Penrith Panthers 12-4

The Panthers are fairly insistent about attacking the Sharks' right side defence.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

Moylan makes a massive break now, running down the left side of the field. Mansour takes the next hitup, and draws a penalty for his team.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

Going to the video referee again - Todd Carney has claimed a try, but we're just checking on a double movement. Carney doesn't look confident, and seems to have been injured in the act of running for the line.

Penrith Panthers 6-0

Penalty against the Panthers - the Sharks needed that badly.

Penrith Panthers 6-0

Sharks doing a lot of defending early in this first half. Brent Kite almost knocks on, but drops the ball down onto his foot and claims a kick.

Penrith Panthers 6-0

Panthers are attacking the left side of the field. Idris stands in a tackle and offloads. On the last, Wallace kicks to the right corner, but Feki is up to the task.

Penrith Panthers 6-0

Panthers heavy on attack now on the last. They again kick to the left of the field looking for Mansour. The ball comes down short of the tryline, and Soward puts in a second kick into the in goal. Morris cleans up, and the Panthers will get a repeat set.

Penrith Panthers 6-0

Six again for the Panthers - Ayshford attempts an intercept - he had the ball but couldn't control it. Panthers on attack in the Sharks half of the field.

Penrith Panthers 6-0

Dean Whare almost makes a break, trying to get around the outside of his man. The Panthers kick across field, and Beau Ryan can't take the kick. We're going to the video referee for a possible try.

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The Sharks send the ball right on the 4th, before kicking across field on the last. Simmons takes the kick and passes back inside to Wallace in open space, but he's easily run down.

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Fifita creates some second phase play, getting a nice late offload away.

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Knock on against the Panthers now - Tim Grant doesn't expect the ball to come down where it does, and he knocks the ball forward. Pressure off the Sharks.

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Carney kicks high to Moylan - Soward runs a block for him and gets belted.

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The Panthers kick towards Beau Ryan, who cleans it up nicely.

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Massive run from Idris there, swatting away defenders, and dragging others.

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The Panthers work the ball to the left of the field. On the last, they kick long and high, with some massive pressure on Gordon. He takes the kick beautifully.

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A strong run from Vave, and then the Sharks kick to the left of field. Moylan watches the ball dribble over the sideline.

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And we're underway. The Panthers start the game, and the Sharks get first use of the football.

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The Panthers are as named, 1-17. Several changes for the Sharks from the team that was named on Tuesday. Beau Ryan will take the field in his first game for 2014, playing in jersey number 20. Anthony Tupou will also start the game in jersey 18. Chris Heighington drops back to the interchange bench, while Michael Lichaa will also come of the bench in jersey 22 in place of the Isaac De Gois.

In a late change, Jonathan Wright has injured himself in warm up, so Blake Ayshford will return to the starting lineup.

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Welcome to Remondis Stadium for this clash between the Sharks and the Panthers this afternoon. The Sharks will be buoyed by the re-signing of Andrew Fifita for a further four years this afternoon.

I'm tipping a close, grinding game in this one - the Sharks will be desperate for a win, but the Panthers will definitely not be easy beats.

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