Cronulla have moved within one match to a historic Grand Final as they managed to hold off a fast-finishing North Queensland by 26-18 at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Cronulla were dominant in the first half, racing in four first half tries to leave a scrambling Cowboys to hold a brief fight back but ultimately it was too much of a start to claw back.
The win sees the Sharks just one win away from a Grand Final, but they will have one of the toughest assignments of the modern era, to defeat the three-time premiers Penrith in order to get there.
While the media spotlight was on star halfback Nicho Hynes in the build up to this match, it was his halves partner Braydon Trindall who stole the show in a man of the match performance from the unheralded half.
It was a controversial start at Allianz Stadium, when the Sharks five-eighth was awarded a penalty try when kicking for himself on the last. Trindall was then tackled without the ball by Rueben Cotter and the Video Referee deemed that Trindall would have scored despite his opposite number Tom Dearden being in the vicinity.
The Cowboys didn't have time to dwell on the decision, when Cronulla struck again minutes later as Ronaldo Mulitalo leapt high for a kick on the last and batted the ball back for Cameron McInnes. McInnes picked up the ball to stretch out and plant the ball down to take a sudden 12-0 lead.
Trindall was involved again for the third Sharks try, when he kicked high on the last for Jesse Ramien who came up with possession and then flicked the ball back to Trindall who then sensationally tip toed down the sideline to score in the corner.
North Queensland were seemingly still on their chartered flight from Townsville as Cronulla again took the momentum when Ronaldo Mulitalo scored in the corner just before halftime to give the Sharks a commanding 24-0 lead at the break.
North Queensland needed a fast start to be any hope of keeping their season alive, and it happened almost immediately as their Queensland centre Valentine Holmes stepped past two defenders to score and give the visitors a pulse at 24-6.
Cronulla then looked to put the game to bed but had not one, but two tries disallowed in three minutes by the Video Referee, with knock ons found in the build up from Sione Katoa and then Royce Hunt respectively.
North Queensland then roared back into the game, when their skipper Reuben Cotter collected a dropped ball from a kick to race away and score under the posts to reduce the margin to 12 with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Cronulla then wrestled back momentum with 15 minutes remaining, when Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater kicked the dropout over the sideline on the full, to present Nicho Hynes with a gift two points and take the score to beyond two converted tries.
North Queensland refused to go away and off the back of a one-on-one steal from Reuben Cotter, Val Holmes crashed over for his second try and keep the game alive with 10 minutes remaining.
From there North Queensland had their chances but could find another gear, as Cronulla held on for a long overdue finals victory.