Nathan Cleary smiles as brother helps Warriors lead, Eels beat Sharks

By Jon Healy

Topic:NRL

Nathan and Ivan Cleary watched Jett's first‑grade debut sparkle. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)

Jett Cleary shone on his first‑grade debut as the Warriors moved into pole position for the minor premiership with a 46‑32 win over Newcastle.

Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti was sent off for a high hit on Luke Laulilii while Jett Cleary, the 21‑year‑old halfback, stayed calm and gave three try assists in the win.

His father and brother, Penrith coach Ivan and captain Nathan, smiled widely as Jett became the first in the family to win on debut.

The Warriors' win moved them past the Panthers into first place on the ladder, just one point ahead on points difference.

At Western Sydney Stadium, the Sharks saw their top‑four hopes end with a surprise 38‑18 loss to the Eels.

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said his side felt the pressure before the finals.

"There's a difference between playing not to lose and playing the way I know we can play," he said.

"I think we're too tight and we're playing teams with nothing to lose."

"We have a lot at stake, we want to do well, we've been together a long time and it's getting to us."

"We're waiting for the semis, we're not playing what's in front of us."

In the NRLW, the Tigers earned their first finals spot with a 44‑14 win over the Bulldogs, while the Warriors lost 22‑18 to the Dragons and the Broncos beat the Eels 44‑10.

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By Jon Healy

Another entertaining day of footy ends with the top eight almost locked in.

We'll be back for the final round when I expect many teams will change line‑ups as they rest players before the finals.

Until then!

By Jon Healy

So, the finals picture becomes clearer as the penultimate round ends.

1st vs 2nd

The minor premiership will be decided next week by whichever team – Warriors or Panthers – wins or wins by a bigger margin, as they are tied on wins and points difference.

The Warriors play Manly in Auckland on Saturday, and the Panthers will know what they need to do in the season‑ending clash with the Tigers on Sunday at 4:05 pm AEST.

3rd vs 4th

The Dolphins' win over the Roosters yesterday put them level on wins and just four points ahead of the Tigers on points difference.

Both teams play on Friday, with the Dolphins facing the Titans on the Gold Coast and the Roosters taking on South Sydney.

5th to 8th

The Sharks are effectively locked into fifth place and the Cowboys into eighth. The Rabbitohs must beat the Roosters to stay sixth, otherwise the Knights will move ahead with the two bye points.

By Jon Healy

Craig Fitzgibbon says his team is struggling mentally and it is hurting their play as they head into another finals run.

"[We were] flat. We got out‑enthused and out‑performed. We were never really in it."

"There's a difference between playing not to lose and playing the way I know we can play. I think we're uptight … and we're playing teams with nothing to lose."

"We've got a lot on the line, we want to do well, we've been together a long time and it's actually getting to us."

"We're waiting for the semis, we're not playing what's in front of us."

Fitzgibbon also talked about punching the computer screen after Tom Hazelton was sent to the sin bin for a hip drop.

"You'd hit the screen if you were down 7‑1 on penalties as well. When everyone's livelihood is on the line and you're down 7‑1 on penalties, you get frustrated."

"I shouldn't have done that, to be fair."

By Jon Healy

The Sharks have now lost three of their last four games, with the only win a narrow victory over the Titans last week.

Tonight they missed the opening whistle, fell behind after 90 seconds and never recovered.

"Terrible start," Cameron McInnes told ABC Sport.

"At the moment we're not coping with the six‑agains, we're dropping our heads. At times this year we got stronger when they went against us."

"We got what we deserved."

"It's just attitude. Everyone wants to play tough but when momentum goes against you you have to stay strong. We've got work to do."

He says the biggest thing they must fix is intent, grit and resilience in defence.

"It's as clear as day. Not good enough."

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By Jon Healy

Cronulla needed many things to go right to reach the top four, but now they have no mathematical chance after the Eels pulled off a stunning upset.

The 13th‑placed Eels beat the Sharks 38‑18 and, unless the Storm beat the Sharks badly and Souths beat the Roosters big next week, the Sharks will finish fifth for the second year in a row.

By Jon Healy

Sifa Talakai's knock‑on gave the Eels another chance and Tallyn Da Silva scored from a classic dummy‑half run.

He tried to boot the ball into the stands on his previous try, and this time it slipped off the inside of his boot.

Key Event

By Jon Healy

Big Junior Paulo broke through the defence and, as reinforcements arrived, he off‑loaded brilliantly to Tallyn Da Silva who scored under the posts.

Mitchell Moses will kick the goal to make it 32‑18 and seal the win.

By Jon Healy

Ronald Volkman went down in pain as his foot was caught under big Tom Hazelton.

The bunker reviewed and Hazelton was off for ten minutes.

Craig Fitzgibbon hit a monitor in the Cronulla coaches' box.

By Jon Healy

The Eels kept the Sharks on the back foot, but Ronaldo Mulitalo stopped Brian Kelly on the third play.

Instead of taking the tackle, Kelly dropped the ball and it was cleared. The Sharks started near their try line but the Eels missed two more chances.

By Jon Healy

They kept attacking the Sharks' line and Ronald Volkman passed between his legs to Josh Addo‑Carr, who tried a grubber.

He kicked it to Will Kennedy and the Eels waited to see if Kennedy could play it.

I'm not sure he did, but the bunker says he did! Wow, another huge call overturning the on‑field decision.

By Jon Healy

The Eels can't get past their 40 m line.

The Sharks are pushing back and are over halfway on the second tackle.

A try here set up a big finish, but Will Kennedy knocked on as a high kick was batted back his way.

Key Event

By Jon Healy

For the second time today, Sione Katoa dived for a valid try just after the Sharks had one ruled out.

Another simple move to the right paid off.

But it was out wide instead of near the posts, and Nicho Hynes couldn't convert from there.

So the Sharks stay eight points behind.

By Jon Healy

I thought his day was over after the hip drop from Junior Paulo, but the Sharks prop returned and scored!

He got the ball left of the posts, bumped Jack Williams, slipped past Luca Moretti and ran through Apa Twidle to score.

But wait, here's the bunker.

Moretti kept his hand under the ball and the on‑field try was overturned!

Gee, it looked 50/50 to me, but the bunker saw enough.

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By Jon Healy

Blayke Brailey kicked what looked like a perfect 40/20, but it bounced up and hit the head of Apa Twidle.

The Eels' fullback arrived in time to gather the ball as Sifa Talakai ran at him, but he was tackled by Jesse Colquhoun and lost the ball after being hit by Briton Nikora.

Brailey got up, scooped the ball and beat Josh Addo‑Carr to the try line.

Twidle was on the ground cursing himself, but Mitch Moses ran over to encourage him. That's great leadership.

By Jon Healy

The Sharks, through Sione Katoa and Will Kennedy, started sets strongly and got a restart mid‑game. Nicho Hynes was penalised for obstruction on the fourth play and then hit Teig Wilton with a short ball, and Mitch Moses tackled him to force a turnover.

By Jon Healy

Will Kennedy tried to pull his hands away from a bomb after it bounced, but it hit his left wrist and kept moving forward. He kept running and gathered the ball, but there was no whistle.

And the Sharks suddenly went on the attack.

By Jon Healy

Oregon Kaufusi offloaded on the first hit‑up straight to Blayke Brailey. Teancum Brown picked up the ball and dove, but he knocked it on.

The Eels got the scrum feed as Brailey knocked on.

What a poor performance from the Sharks so far.

By Jon Healy

What a beautiful moment for this champion family.

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By Jon Healy

Parramatta surged ahead and led 26‑6 as the Sharks tried one last play in the half. The whistle blew for a penalty against the Eels as time ran out, and the Sharks chose the two points instead of a final play.

The Eels lead by three converted tries as the teams head to the sheds.

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