Shire team earn vital win ahead of the finals series.
Cronulla have moved up into fifth place on the NRL ladder after beating the Canberra Raiders 38-18 at Canberra Stadium.
The win for the Sharks sees them book a elimination final game against the North Queensland Cowboys in the first round of the finals next week.
Canberra’s loss caps a horror end to the season as they battled transfer rumors, Blake Ferguson’s disappearing act before his final sacking along with coach David Furner being let go by the club.
However, the win was soured by the potentially serious calf injury to prop Andrew Fifita, who has been one of the best forwards in the entire NRL this season.
Cronulla grabbed the lead early when Sosaiai Feki crossed in just the sixth minute before David Shillington scored his first try for the season for Canberra to make the scores locked up at six.
Off the back of a Chad Townsend kick, the Sharks were over again as Luke Lewis bagged his fourth for the season.
Cronulla’s lead at the break was cut to just two as Anthony Milford confirmed why he is one of the hottest properties in the NRL at the moment, as he bagged his ninth try for the season.
Both sides were stuck in an arm-wrestle to begin the second half before Sharks halfback Jeff Robson plunged over as Michael Gordon continued his good game with the boot, adding the extras to make it 20-12.
Shillington made it a double in the 62th minute as the home side showed they weren’t going away.
But, much like the second half of their season, when they were close enough to strike and break the game open, they failed.
Cronulla scored the final three tries through Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Gibbs and Beau Ryan to run out convincing winners.
The Sharks will play in an elimination final next week against the North Queensland Cowboys with the winner going on to the loser of the Roosters and Sea Eagles clash.
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