NRL updates: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks come from behind to beat St George Illawarra Dragons 30-18

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks have mounted a stunning second-half comeback to down the St George Illawarra Dragons 30-18 in the southern Sydney derby at Shark Park.

Following two successive defeats where the Sharks had shipped 40 points per game, the victory moves them back up to fifth on the NRL ladder.

A dominant opening 15 minutes saw Braydon Trindall score the opening try for the hosts, who seemed set to power away to a big victory.

But an individual piece of brilliance from Damien Cook against the run of play sparked an incredible fightback from the Dragons, who suffered their own heavy defeat last time out against the Dolphins.

Lyhkan King-Togia reached to score a superb try. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

Lyhkan King-Togia and Jack De Belin both crossed, the latter of which came while Jesse Ramien was in the sin bin for a professional foul.

Having suffered successive, heavy defeats, the fear of the home crowd was that the Sharks would capitulate once again, their top-four hopes in tatters.

However, in the second 40 it was the Dragons who succumbed to the pressure, wilting against their rivals to fall to a 10th-straight southern derby defeat.

Braydon Trindall scored the opener for the Sharks. (AAP Image: Dan Himbrechts)

The Sharks scored three tries in eight minutes, Briton Nikora scoring his 50th NRL try on his 150th appearance for the Sharks, before Trindall scored a second and Sione Katoa crossed to turn the game on its head.

"Pressure was on us," Nikora told ABC Sport post-match.

"It's been on us for a couple of weeks now and the only way to get through it is walk towards it."

Peppering Tyrell Sloan with high bombs and off the back of some impressive, darting runs from hooker Blayke Brailey out of dummy half, the Sharks did enough to reverse their form slump.

Katoa, who ran for a game-high 274 metres, sealed the victory with his second try soon before the finish as the Sharks handed the Dragons a second-straight defeat.

The victory was the Sharks' 10th in a row over their local rivals and capped the night where Craig Fitzgibbon coached his 92nd game for the Sharks, equal with the number his dad Allan did for fourth all time at the club.

Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

Key Events FT: THE SHARKS WIN! 33 minutes ago HT: Boos ring out around Shark Park 1 hours ago Sharks vs Dragons team news 2 hours ago Live updates: Sharks vs Dragons S By Simon Smale We'll wrap things up here S By Simon Smale Thanks for being with us this evening everyone. There's plenty more live coverage cover the course of the weekend - and indeed over the course of the night - on the ABC Sport website. I'll be back with you for more reaction and action tomorrow as the NRL roadshow moves to the Gold Coast with the Titans taking on Daly Cherry-Evans' Manly Sea Eagles. I look forward to you joining me then. Thanks for being with us folks S By Simon Smale Great game, an unpredictable way to get a predictable win - Thanks for the blog Simon, see you tomorrow night for Manly's recovery from their loss last week... - Mike Enjoyed the blog Simon and off to follow the cricket- hope the result is the same. - KB FT: THE SHARKS WIN! S By Simon Smale (AAP Photo) What a fantastic game of footy. That was in the balance throughout the match, another NRL contest that featured more twists and turns than a Dreamworld roller coaster. The Sharks were dominant for the first 15 minutes, rubbish for 25 minutes before half time, and then brilliant again for the final 40. The Dragons had their moments but you felt they didn't make the most of their time with a man advantage, making some very poor errors and decisions not to attack Jesse Ramien's side of the field. The Sharks win after two heavy defeats but the Dragons fall to another defeat against their bogey team, a 10th-straight southern derby defeat. 75' KATOA SCORES! S By Simon Smale The Dragons have the ball, looking to fine their way through. King-Togia chips and chases, Sione Katoa slips and slides towards the ball as it lands, he somehow picks it up clean and then runs 60 metres up the other way to score and seal the game! King-Togia had a little swipe at the ball as it landed and was kicked straight into the arms of the sliding Katoa. That's remarkable. Great slide. Great catch. Great try. Great match. The kick is good and it's 30-18. 74' BRAILEY IS OVER! BUT IT WON'T COUNT! S By Simon Smale But it won't count! The ball was not played squarely which allowed Brailey the chance to dive over from dummy half. The Dragons get the turnover ball. 72' DRAGONS DUDDED! S By Simon Smale Oh NO! The Dragons went short from the kick off and win it back! But Grant Atkins says the ball didn't break the plain! Wow, that's a rough call - and the Dragons lost their challenge on the last play. 70' PENALTY SHARKS! S By Simon Smale Two repeat sets called against the Dragons as the Sharks continue to press. But then David Klemmer raced out of the line and tackled the player without the ball to give away a penalty. Tough on Klemmer, but fair decision. The Dragons did challenge it but more out of hope that expectation. The Dragons defended so well and were almost away, but for the whistle, because Nicho Hynes gave the ball a very weird shank over his shoulder and into the path of the Dragons, who could have gone all the way up the other end. Instead, Hynes will take the shot at goal and he nails it. The difference is six, the score 24-18. 69' Sloan just misses the intercept S By Simon Smale Oh that would have been interesting. Hynes picked up a loose ball after a kick was not diffused by the Dragons. He looked to pass the ball to McInnes but Sloan swooped in and came within a whisker of getting a solid hand on it to effect an intercept. As it was, he still stopped the Sharks attack, but with a knock on. Sharks have good field position on the 10. 66' Dragons lucky not to give away a penalty S By Simon Smale Jack De Belin has cracked Cameron McInnes in the back of the head as the Sharks captain is felled in a tackle. That should have been a penalty - perhaps that's the luck the Dragons need to turn the tide against the Sharks? De Belin being on does instantly make a difference though, he was great for the Dragons in his first stint and now needs to finish strong. 64' Goal line drop out S By Simon Smale Sloan did really well to claim a Trindall bomb just before, but the Dragons are really struggling to make any inroads and before they know it, the Sharks are coming right back at them. That's another solid set, the Sharks making easy metres. Blayke Brailey makes another little line break up the middle out of dummy half. This time the kick is a grubber, Sloan comes across but is smashed into touch in the in-goal by Ronaldo Mulitalo, who is FIRED UP! I'd say so S By Simon Smale Have the Dragons run out of puff? - Jackie Paper Puff. Belief. You name it, they're out of it. Hope helps S By Simon Smale I’ve pulled myself together and got a bit of hope. The first wicket of the day didn’t hurt either. - KB As do wickets. And as do tries. 60' Knock on Dragons! But the Sharks touched it first! S By Simon Smale Oh my goodness, another kick. Another chase. Another error! But no, there was a slight touch there from the Sharks chaser. The Dragons use their captains challenge and they are successful. A huge let off for the Dragons there - if they concede again now you get a feeling the Sharks could really tear them apart. 58' TRY SHARKS! S By Simon Smale Sione Katoa is allowed to run and run and run and run across to the right side, looking for a gap that he then spots, drops his shoulder and runs through it to score.

It's so easy for the Sharks all of a sudden, the Dragons just completely capitulating. The kick from the sideline just slides away, taken by the wind, to leave the score 22-18 to the hosts. 57' Another kick, another error S By Simon Smale The Sharks are rocking and rolling now. Another poor drop from a Dragon, this time Nathan Lawson. The Sharks have the ball on the 10. 54' THE SHARKS ARE OVER AGAIN! S By Simon Smale Trindall with a delicate kick, Sloan has been terrible under the high ball and makes a real meal out of that, getting in Gutherson's way and the ball just drops in the in-goal and Trindall drops on it to score! Gutherson only had eyes for that ball, Sloan has not looked like catching anything all night and that's a massive error. Great kick off the back of a really strong set from the Sharks. The kick is good and we're back on level terms! It's 18-18. 49' BRITON NIKORA SCORES! S By Simon Smale Lovely from the Sharks.

A 50th try of his Sharks career from Briton Nikora, the 150-game man, as iot's simple stuff, a crash ball off the second receiver and a powerful run from the second rower to score. Game very much back on. The kick is good and it's 18-12. 48' Sharks penalty S By Simon Smale The Sharks are starting to roll, the crowd starting to get involved as the Blue shirts attack the Dragons line. Moses Suli goes a bit high as the Sharks move the ball right and it's a penalty that puts the Sharks on the front foot.

47' KATOA IS HELD UP! S By Simon Smale That's a superb stop from the Dragons! Lovely move down the right side from the Sharks, quick hands and great movement. It was Lyhkan King-Togia who was there though and he somehow, with the assistance of Luciano Leilua, held him up! That was an incredible stop. Show more posts

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