Sharks have become the away game masters, recording a seventh straight away victory with a comprehensive 44-12 scoreline against the Sydney Roosters in front of 20.060 fans at Central Coast Stadium.
It was a dominant performance from start to finish for the Sharks - an eight try performance which simply blew away a Roosters side that wasn't at the races most of the afternoon. The one through five for the Sharks getting across the stripe as the premiers flexed their muscles.
In the first half, the Sharks completed 19 out of 19 sets as they looked slick every time they ran the ball. The backline plays worked to perfection as the premiers ran out to a 20-12 half-time lead in the Central Coast sun.
Luke Keary had an impressive opening half for the Roosters, he was energetic in attack as he assisted both the Roosters tries in the contest. First from the boot for Tupou then a short ball to Ryan Matterson to keep in striking distance.
The second half was one way traffic though, Sharks took ten minutes to cross through Ricky Leutele who also scored the last point then the forwards rolled over the advantage line which allowed Maloney and Townsend to just fling the ball across the backline.
The scorer's sheet looks like a roll call for the backs as Jack Bird, the previously mentioned Leutele, Sosaia Feki and Valentine Holmes all crossed for four pointers but the signature event was left to Luke Lewis.
He rolled back the years to when he was a springly winger as he scored a second intercept try in as many weeks, outpacing no slouch in Latrell Mitchell to put the Sharks well in the rear view of the Roosters.
It was a timely message from the premiers, as the Storm laid down a marker in their emphatic victory last night so the Sharks have returned serve as we loom closer to maybe a repeat grand final in 2017.
The Roosters will lick their wounds and host the Rabbitohs at Allianz next Friday before Origin III, while the Sharks are lucky enough to have a scheduled bye.