Sharks stumble as Dolphins stay in NRL's vital top four

The Cronulla Sharks squandered a significant chance to climb back into the NRL's top four, suffering a damaging 24-20 defeat against the struggling Canberra Raiders. The loss not only impacts their ladder position with only three rounds remaining before the finals but also saw star playmaker Braydon Trindall sustain a dislocated shoulder.

Despite dominating possession and territory for the final 10 minutes, camped on Canberra's try line, the Sharks failed to find a match-winner. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon faces mounting injury concerns, with Trindall's absence adding to the woes of suspended forward Addin Fonua-Blake and injured centre Jesse Ramien. The team appeared vulnerable and struggled to adapt after Trindall's early exit.

Cronulla started brightly, leading 8-0, but momentum shifted dramatically after Trindall's injury. Canberra capitalized, scoring two quick tries to take the lead. Although the Sharks fought back, a controversial disallowed try for Ronaldo Mulitalo late in the game proved to be their last real chance.

With consecutive losses to teams outside finals contention, the Sharks now face a challenging path to secure a top-four finish and the double-chance in the playoffs. History suggests that winning the premiership from outside the top four is a near-impossible feat in the NRL era.

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The Bunker went with referee Gerard Sutton's on-field "no try" call.