Kade Dykes scored his maiden NRL try in just his second game as Cronulla retained their spot in the top-four with an uncompromising 36-12 win over Wests Tigers at Scully Park in Tamworth.
Dykes is the Sharks’ first third-generation player after his father Adam and grandfather John wore the black-white-and-blue.
He played his part in Cronulla’s eighth win in their past nine games with his 21st minute try after chasing a kick back on the inside from winger Lachie Miller.
The win also ensured the Sharks leapt over the top of Melbourne into third place on the NRL ladder as they search for a home final with just three rounds left.
The Sharks continued to show no mercy to the joint-venture club this year after belting them 30-4 in round five.
The Sharks scored four tries in the first half – three off kicks – as they got their attack humming off the back of a 61 per cent possession rate for a 26-6 lead at the break.
Their second half brought another two tries as they made it an uncomfortable night for the out-of-luck Tigers.
Both Matt Ikuvalu and Miller were playing just their third game for Cronulla this year, coming in for the injured Siosifa Talakai and Will Kennedy respectively.
And both wingers scored in the opening 10 minutes.
The Wests Tigers disrupted the flow with hooker Fa’amanu Brown, who spent three seasons at the Sharks, barged over from dummy-half to give his team a sniff at 12-6.
But then prop Royce Hunt ran right over the top of fullback Dane Laurie and Dykes had his piece of personal history and the game was indeed getting away from Brett Kimmorley’s men.
It only took Cronulla just 13 minutes to score the first points of the second half – another prop barging over, this time Braden Hamin-Uele dragging three defenders with him for a 32-6 lead.
But it lit a small fuse in the Tigers with back rower Luke Gardner getting on the outside of Dykes for a 20-metre dash to the line.
However, Jesse Ramien crossed for his ninth try of the year just before things started to turn sour for the Sharks.
They lost two players to injuries – Toby Rudolf (knee) and Miller (head injury assessment) – and then back rower Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a late tackle on Laurie.
Wests Tigers winger Brent Naden waltzed through flimsy defence to cross the line but the try was over-ruled because of obstruction.
It just wasn’t the Tigers’ night and it doesn’t get any easier for them as they face the Sydney Roosters next Saturday .
The Roosters will be playing their final game at the SCG before moving into their new digs next door at Allianz Stadium.
It’s no easy task for the Sharks either as they head to 4 Pines Park to play Manly – with the daunting statistic of only winning five games from 54 played at the Brookvale venue.
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