The Sharks have once again scored more tries than their opposition but failed to win, as they went down to the Broncos by 2 points in a 24-22 loss at Pointsbet Stadium.
The Broncos fielded a team full of rookies, but debutant Xavier Coates didn't look at all nervous. In the 7th minute he flew through and snatched a Jake Turpin cross-field kick out of the air to score a good try. Kotoni Staggs converted.
Five minutes later the Sharks struck back when they sent the ball right to Josh Dugan, who stepped inside a cover defender and then scored a good try. Chad Townsend failed to convert.
Five minutes later and the Sharks scored again, this time when Townsend's grubber was fumbled in the Broncos in-goal by Coates and Townsend followed through to score. Townsend failed to convert again.
In the 31st minute Matt Moylan and Townsend had a breakdown in communication when fielding a grubber and the ball rolled into the Sharks in-goal where Tevita Panagai pounced on it to score. Staggs converted from in front.
The Sharks opened the second half in blistering form, with three tries in the space of nine minutes, all to Josh Morris.
In the 44th minute, Cronulla moved the ball right only for Moylan to run into a dead-end. He then passed back to Shaun Johnson who sent the ball left, where it eventually got to Morris, who stepped inside the first cover defender and then just managed to get the ball down over the line for a great try in the left corner. Townsend failed to convert from wide.
5 minutes later, Jack Williams stepped off his left foot and waltzed straight through the middle of the Broncos defence, passed left to Jayden Brailey, who got the ball onto Moylan and he passed it to Morris who dived over on the left side to score again. Townsend missed his fourth straight goal.
Four more minutes later and they scored again. This time Bronson Xerri with a nice draw and pass gave Morris an easy walk-in try. Kyle Flanagan landed the Sharks first goal of the game.
In the 63rd minute the Broncos hit back when Payne Haas steamed onto a pass and ran over Flanagan to score under the posts. Staggs added the extras.
Then with just 5 minutes remaining, Aaron Woods gave away a silly penalty 25m from the Sharks line and from the ensuing set, Turpin scored a soft try near the sticks, which Staggs converted to seal an unexpected 2 point victory for the Broncos.