Sione Katoa crosses the line for the Sharks in a thriller.

Sione Katoa crosses the line for the Sharks in a thriller.Credit:Getty

“It was a slight risk,but the medical guys did a good job with him,” Fitzgibbon said.

Russell Crowe’s beloved South Sydney might have strode onto Suncorp Stadium minutes after this one,but in the words of Maximus,are you not entertained?

The Roosters stole a 24-18 half-time lead seven seconds before the break when Will Kennedy fumbled a pass from an audacious kick return,but it merely served to spur the Sharks into action.

The sight of a big,balding prop hailing from country NSW carrying defenders over the line with just a few minutes left is a sight few would have predicted to see so regularly this year,but that’s Cronulla this year. That’s the NRL.

Hazelton was mobbed by teammates after his fourth try in the last five games,settling a madcap contest which featured Joseph Suaalii being sin-binned for a professional foul in the first half and Roosters centre Junior Pauga bagging a double.

Dominic Young celebrates a try.

Dominic Young celebrates a try.Credit:Getty

But from the moment Siosifa Talakai powered and burrowed his way to a try he shouldn’t have scored early after the break,the Sharks threw all the punches of a premiership fancy.

“A bit more adversity and a different way of winning,” Fitzgibbon said. “I thought we were under the pump for the most part. We still kept hanging in and found a way. They put us under pressure and made us feel that way.

“I thought we went backwards a little bit tonight,but I thought that was because of the quality of their performance in parts. We are improving and getting better,but we’ll need to be better again next week.”

Captain Cameron McInnes said:“We’ve got a long way to go,but the love[the squad has] for each other,I feel very blessed to be able to be thrown in amongst it. It’s authentic and it’s a special group.”

It was also another special game on a weekend full of them.

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“It’s great for Magic Round,not so great for us,” Robinson said. “Any time you leak 38 points,you’re not going to win a game. I really like some of the stuff we’re doing,but we just need to get harder in some areas.

“You should never leak 38 points. That was really disappointing. We just opened the door a lot in that second half.”

Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary finished the match with a head injury assessment after copping a poke in the eye from teammate Lindsay Collins. He passed his head injury assessment after full time.

And the Sharks passed their latest test. There are a few more cynics starting to believe.

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Sharks seal the deal

78 min: A converted Tom Hazelton try – his fifth of the season – from close range secures a seventh straight victory for the Sharks. Next week they face another big test in premiers Penrith but with successive wins against Melbourne and the Roosters they’ve dispelled the theory they are flat-track bullies. Look out Panthers!Cronulla 38-30

Roosters are back in the hunt

71 min: Young crosses for his second,Walkers converts and the Roosters trail by only two again.Sharks 32-30

Sharks extend their lead

66 min: Hynes and Iro combine to send Mulitalo over. Hynes converts to give Cronulla an eight-point lead.Sharks 32-24

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Sharks edge ahead

59 min: Cronulla regain the lead via a Hynes penalty goal. Big finish coming up.Sharks 26-24

We’re all level. Again

44 min: A Crichton handling error inside his own half gifts the Sharks a chance,which they capitalise on with Talakai powering through several defenders. Hynes converts.24-24

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Game back on

41 min: Roosters return the Sharks’ kick off. Here are the half-time stats.

Congratulations Lindsay Collins

  • Alan Katzmann is the Roosters’ official historian and a life member of the club

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