Sharks dispatch Raiders to surge into Flegg grand final

Five-eighth Taj Ford bagged a hat-trick, while the electric centre-wing pairing of Michael Gabrael and Te Wehi Waitere were also instrumental in the six-tries-to-three romp as they wreaked early havoc on the left edge.

The elusive outside backs combined to engineer the opening four-pointer for Ford, who finished off a long-range movement by backing up through the middle.

Riley Pollard's simple conversion made it 6-0 after seven minutes.

Gabrael was soon at it again, putting back-rower Dylan Coutts into the clear. He linked with a galloping Waitere, but a shift on the next play came unstuck.

Cronulla surged further ahead in the 16th minute with a piece of brilliance from Kristian Dixon, who flew to reel in a bomb, absorbed the contact and charged over the stripe. Another easy goal for Pollard gave the Sharks an imposing 12-0 lead.

Continuing a starring role, Gabrael laid on Cronulla's third try when he swerved into space after a bullet pass from Ford before hitting Waitere again. The flanker had work to do but withstood the defence to slam the ball down.

Pollard slipped as he kicked the conversion but still drilled it over the black dot.

Canberra hit back in the shadows of half-time when forward Tahrell Feaveai barged across from close range. Mitchell Henderson's goal cut the margin to 18-6.

The Sharks came out firing after the break, reaffirming their dominance with centre Talanoa Penitani proving too strong. Pollard added the extras once more before booting a penalty goal to give the underdogs a 26-6 advantage.

Not done with yet, the Raiders rallied as Kane Rushton spectacularly dived to score from a well-placed cross-field kick. Henderson couldn't convert.

Canberra kept pressing, but Cronulla landed the knockout blow in the 61st minute thanks to runaway prop Felix Faatili. The crowd rose in awe as the giant gathered a kick and set off downfield, showing tremendous speed belying his frame. While he didn't have the legs to go all the way, Ford split the Raiders on the next play.

The playmaker quickly had his treble, scooping up a fortuitous ricochet from his own grubber to send the Cronulla party into overdrive.

Pollard maintained his perfect goal-kicking record to cap off a tremendous display. 

A try to Canberra's Siamani Leuluai on the bell didn't dampen the delight of the young Sharks, who can become Cronulla's second title-winning Flegg team after the victorious side of 2018 when they tackle the Bulldogs next weekend.