Sharks grind down Titans to assert NRLW title credentials
The Cronulla Sharks have extended their unbeaten start to the NRLW season with a hard-fought victory over the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday afternoon.
The Titans burst out of the blocks early but Cronulla didn't give their opponents a sniff once they took control of the contest midway through the first half.
The Sharks ran in four tries to one to secure a 22-6 victory in scorching conditions at Cbus Super Stadium.
The match was a high-quality defensive struggle between two of the top teams in the competition, with Cronulla asserting their premiership credentials by defeating last year's runners up.
The Sharks have now won their first six games to start the season in an eight-game winning streak dating back to last year. It's the second-best streak in NRLW history, behind Newcastle's 11-match winning streak of 2023 and 2024.
The Titans dominated the early exchanges but it was Cronulla who struck first after they ran 90 metres in two plays to open the scoring through Tiana Penitani.
The Gold Coast continued to maintain the ascendancy after the try however it took them 17 minutes to crack the Sharks defensive wall, with Emily Bass diving over in the corner.
From there, the momentum shifted back towards the visitors and Tony Herman's side was able to wrestle back control in the final 15 minutes of the half.
Winger Georgia Ravics scores in the 25th minute and they came agonisingly close to extending their four-point lead on multiple occasions. This time it was the Titans defence that was up to the task and they held on to ensure they only trailed 10-6 at the break.
Cronulla's control of the contest continued after half-time, with halfback Tayla Preston pinning the hosts inside their own half with a series of perfectly placed kicks.
The pressure eventually proved too great and Ravics crossed for her second in the 48th minute. Preston nailed the conversion from the sideline to make it 16-6.
Cronulla didn't take their foot off the pedal as the second half progressed and they didn't give the Titans a sniff of working their way back into the match.
Eventually Annessa Biddle put the game to bed when she crossed with three minutes to play to secure a hard-fought victory.
Match snapshot
- Sharks skipper Tiana Penitani has now scored five tries in her past six games.
- Cronulla winger Georgia Ravics has scored a double in back-to-back games.
- The Sharks forced six line dropouts in the win, the most by a side in an NRLW match in the competition's history.
- Gold Coast had won their last four games at Cbus Super Stadium prior to Saturday's loss.
- The Sharks solidified their standing as the best defensive team in the competition, conceding just six points in the victory.
