Cronulla Sharks took bragging rights in the local derby with a 40-8 win over a disgraceful St George Illawarra Dragons side in front of 15,126 fans at Kogarah Oval on Sunday night.
Nicho Hynes stamped his return game with authority. The halfback had a hand in a majority of the Sharks seven tries and the reigning Dally M medalist helped turn around an inconsistent Sharks side and decimate their local rivals.
A bumper crowd rolled up to Kogarah, as the two rivals locked horns. The start was typically intense and both sides didn't give an inch. Sharks opened the scoring with Hynes sublime pass sending Ronaldo Mulitalo free then a kick inside for William Kennedy made it 6-0.
Dragons showed some fight through their skipper. Ben Hunt with the dummy to beat his opposite number and get the Dragons on the board. The host took the lead soon after when Jaydn Su'A sliced through for an 8-6 lead.
On the hour mark the Sharks retook their lead. A high kick was spilled back to the visitors then Jesse Ramien and Sione Katoa exchanged passes for the former to make it 12-8 at half-time.
Coming out the break, Sharks felt just fine. They piled on 28 points in a one-sided affair which gave them bragging rights over their rivals. It started in the first minute when Dragons knocked on and quick hands from the Sharks saw Mulitalo dive over.
Hynes showed all the aspects of his game in the drubbing with a sublime short pass which sent Briton Nikora, who was playing his first game of the season, over right under the sticks as the vocal cords warmed up.
Once again, the halfback was involved in the action. He kicked ahead, regathered and then sent it left for Mulitalo to make it a double. Next, Ramien got into the double act when he was the end of a long range move to make it 32-8.
Dragons were diabolical in the second half which saw them fumble and bumble the ball at every opportunity. They let their frustration get to them with five-eighth Jayden Sullivan put on report twice and the whistle given a heavy workout with infringements.
The Sharks put the icing on the victory cake late in the contest. Hynes again had his hands all over the work and he sent the Sharks other winger Katoa over in the right corner to make it 38-8 then Siosifa Talakai punted over a late penalty goal to make it 40.