Fans stay home but Sharks turn up to end Cowboys’ season

If you build it, they won’t come.

It may be the one of the best stadiums in the southern hemisphere, a mere 25.2 kilometres from the Sharks’ spiritual home in the Shire. But many Cronulla fans refuse to leave Cronulla.

Not even the siren song of their Mermaids cheerleaders, free public transport for ticket holders, or the chance to witness their team in a finals fixture was enough to bring them to Allianz Stadium.

An official crowd of 17,429 was posted. That’s only about 2,500 more than the capacity of Shark Park, otherwise known as Ocean Protect Stadium. Understandably, only a handful of hearty Cowboys souls made the long commute from Townsville.

The decision to shift the game here was a controversial one. Head office will hope the extra corporate cash it pockets from playing at Allianz offsets the broadcast images of a stadium less than half full.

The reasons for non-attendance remain unclear. Is it because rugby league is such a good television product? The fatigue of watching the seventh North Queensland-Cronulla post-season clash since 2013? Or just a preference for “Portaloo Park”?

Whatever the case, the Sharks got the job done without the vocal support they would normally get at their regular home.

“It’s not our decision,” Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. “I felt like this last year - obviously the amount of sulking that went on about playing at Shark Park, I thought we weren’t any chance of getting it this year. They should have just told us earlier.

“But also, for us, we’re happy to play here. We’re in semi-finals; we want to play in a big stadium. But our members and fans pay their money all year to be able to watch their team make semi-finals and play at home, and we earned that. We didn’t get it … but that’s not up to me. I would imagine it’s a financial decision or viewing optics for the game. I’m not sure.”

A 26-16 win against their old sparring partners was achieved despite their returning maestro playing with the use of only one shoulder. Braydon Trindall took his place after three weeks on the sidelines. Despite being clearly hampered, he passed, tackled and kicked his side to a scrappy victory.

At one point in the second half, “Tricky” gave his shoulder an unnecessary test when he tried to retrieve the football from his own short kick-off. The pivot couldn’t be accused of playing in a dinner suit. When he produced a season-high 31st try assist with a pass to fullback Will Kennedy – not even Nathan Cleary comes near that figure – it was due reward for playing through the pain.

The Cowboys have been the most curious side in the NRL. They qualified for the top eight despite conceding more points than any other finalist in history. Their devil-may-care attitude is best exemplified by Scott Drinkwater. The Dragons-bound fullback is the ultimate gunslinger. One errant cut-out pass resulted in an intercept that gifted Sione Katoa his 100th NRL try. Undeterred, he threw another one that hit Zac Laybutt on the chest from 25 metres away to give his side hope.

However, it was always going to come down to the Cowboys’ application without the football. They defended stoutly when starved off possession for much of the opening half, particularly when their tryline was peppered. However, those exertions eventually took their toll. When Nico Hynes shaped to kick, but instead stepped off his left foot, their fate was sealed.

There is every chance that the Sharks could be required to return to Allianz next week. Asked whether he hoped more of their fans will follow them there, captain Cameron McInnes deadpanned: “I don’t know. If you can afford it, come. If you can’t, watch it on TV. I couldn’t care less, really.”

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