Sharks thrash Titans

SYDNEY: Sharks playmaker Shaun Johnson returned from a hamstring strain for a memorable 200th NRL appearance, guiding his side to a comfortable 38-10 win over the Titans in Coffs Harbour.
Johnson was making only his fourth appearance in 2021 but he hadn’t lost his ability to throw a clean cut-out pass or kick a goal.
He landed all six conversions and a penalty.
He earned himself an early shower — and a standing ovation from the locals — with six minutes left on the clock. Johnson was ably supported today by Matt Moylan at five-eighth, who made two linebreaks and had a try assist and six tackle breaks.
He was a handful all afternoon.
The pair had their fingerprints all over the game which might make it hard for the overlooked Chad Townsend to force his way back into the side.
The Sharks halves were only two of the Titans’ many problems at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
Their error rate and poor choices in both attack and defence were compounded by losing star fulback AJ Brimson injury.
But many of their other stars were unsighted. Tit-for-tat tries got things moving early — Brian Kelly for the Titans and Jesse Ramien for the Sharks —to lock scores up at 6-6.
Then the Titans lock Tino Fa’asumaleaui was sin-binned for repeat ruck infringements.
The Sharks slotted a penalty (Johnson) and a converted try (Mulitalo) with him off the field to stretch things out to 14-6.
Will Chambers was the second to be sin-binned — for a high tackle on Patrick Herbert — and the Sharks still scored despite being a man-down.
Mulitalo accepted a nice Moylan pass outsmarting the Titans’ right-edge defence for a second time.
The left showed little starch either as Jack Williams ran off a Johnson short pass to score the Sharks fourth try. That was 26 unanswered points by the Sharks as they took a 26-6 lead into halftime.
Cronulla won at the back of a 91 per cent completion rate.
Results: Thurs, May 27 — Broncos 12 Storm 40; Fri, May 28 — Cowboys 29 Warriors 28, Wests Tigers 34 Dragons 18; Sat, May 29 — Panthers 30 Bulldogs 4, Rabbitohs 38 Eels 20, Roosters 44 Raiders 16; Sun, May 30 — Sharks 38 Titans 10, Knights 18 Sea Eagles 10. – NRL