Cronulla Sharks well in top-four race after stunning rusty …
In August 2018, Cronulla pulled off a stunning 17–14 road victory over Melbourne at AAMI Park—despite a rusty display early on. Rash penalties from the Storm, strong defense by Sharks forwards, and a match-winning try from Valentine Holmes put Cronulla in top-four contention with only a few rounds left .
At the time, their upcoming games were against lower-ranked teams, offering a prime opportunity to leapfrog Penrith and St George Illawarra into the top four
In the final round, they defeated Canterbury 30–18 to clinch 4th position—tying on competition points with Roosters, Storm, and Rabbitohs, with placement decided on for-and-against .
That headline refers to a 2018 match. Nothing recent matches that phrasing exactly. If you’re tracking current Sharks performance in the 2025 season, here’s a summary:
They dropped a close 24–20 game in April, showing flashes of top-four quality but losing out in dramatic fashion .
In June, Cronulla suffered a heavy 40–10 defeat to the Warriors, marked by a serious head injury to second-rower Briton Nikora .
Overall, the 2024 season saw them end 4th and make the preliminary final—definitely on the fringes of the elite .
As of mid-2025, the Sharks are showing ups and downs: competitive performances but lacking the consistency of a true top-four side. Injuries, erratic form, and brutal losses have left their finals hopes uncertain.
Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of their current ladder positions, recent fixtures, injury report, or an NRL video highlight!
