Flegg Sharks seal finals berth with Warriors win
The Sharks will storm into the Jersey Flegg finals on a seven-match winning streak after overpowering the Warriors 20-4 to secure fifth spot on Saturday night.
Needing victory to book a playoffs berth, Cronulla's under 21s struck early through hooker Chad Jarvis and never looked back in a one-sided NRL curtain-raiser at PointsBet Stadium.
The result sets up an elimination-final clash with the fourth-placed Knights next week.
Winger Kristian Dixon produced a flying finish to touch down for the Sharks' second try in the 10th minute, converted by Riley Pollard for a 10-0 lead.
Second-rower Max McCarthy blitzed through a hole to set up the next four-pointer for Talanoa Penitani, with Cronulla tearing apart the Warriors' left edge.
The Sharks quickly built upon a commanding 14-0 buffer in the second half as hulking prop Felix Faatili showed impressive strength and speed in a runaway try.
An arm-wrestle ensued as Cronulla defended their line vigorously to continually repel the Warriors.
It took until the 67th minute, with the Sharks down a man after Taj Brailey's sin-binning for repeated infringements, for the New Zealand club to crack the black, white and blue wall thanks to centre Sialetili Faeamani.
Cronulla have wrapped up the regular season with a 14-1-9 record, finishing one competition point above the Eels and Wests Tigers.
