Roosters Maintain Whitlam Era Dominance Over Sharks

Sydney Roosters 26

Cronulla Sharks 18

1975.

The Australian Government was in melt down crisis-mode, Abe Saffron was behind the news of an iconic Sydney structure fire and the Cronulla Sharks were walking off the Sydney Cricket Ground turf as conquerors against a record setting Sydney Roosters outfit, somehow only the latter is yet to flash across news screen Chyrons in recent weeks... or since. Up 18 - 4 with 18 minutes to play, Cronulla looks destined to end the 41 year and 5 day drought, but decided to hit the Ladies Stand Bar early and round up some tables in the corner as the Sydney Roosters just started to round into form. Allowing four tries in 14 minutes, full credit could not be given to the boys from the Shire on a cool Sydney night as they fell short again against a top eight side after looking like the better team for the majority.

Sam Walker had his fingerprints all over this game. A punching bag along the defensive line in the first half -- being targeted on Cronulla's first two tries -- he turned that around to win the game for the Bondi Boys with three try assists and a try of his own in the dying minutes to complete the comeback. In a sports world of what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, even the sins of the first half are absolved when the end result looks like this. At just 18 years of age, playing in his second first grade game, the hyperbole about his future will be rampant, but not unexpected. Playing for a club that commentators can't seem to help but marvel at, post game shows and Sunday newspaper columnists will no doubt be singing his praises until he hits the field next week and proves otherwise. Until then, sack Luke Keary, retire the number 7 jersey and get the ARL Commision on the phone about his inclusion in the 2022 Immortals induction ceremony.

Despite the horrid end to the contest, Cronulla held their own for 70 minutes against the best attack in the competition. Losing Captain Wade Graham early in the first half to a concerning second concussion in three weeks didn't help the blue and black outfit, but having a competent veteran in Aiden Tolman step in to fill the void stopped the bleeding as much as possible. In the end the Sharks just ran out of steam and were all but eye-witnesses to the melee of points poured upon them in the final quarter. With the schedule easing up over the next couple of weeks, Cronulla will look to lick their wounds before facing off against the Storm, Panthers and Rabbitohs in consecutive weeks. Enjoy the Ladies Stand Bar Sharkies, drinks may not taste so sweet in a months time.

With 11 tries in five games, Brett Morris has a genuine shot at contending with the season try scoring record; an unimaginable 38 tries -- in just 16 games -- set all the way back in 1935 by now Immortal, Dave Brown. Given some lopsided competition back then -- two teams scored less tries then Brown did over the season -- Morris even flirting with the record would be an achievement many would think insurmountable given the competition in the modern game. But as the rules change, with the ball in play more over 80 minutes, these records will start to get a sniff and games like tonight's will become more common.