Cronulla piggybacked off a Wests penalty to begin the game and were over inside 90 seconds, Bronson Xerri swerving his way in out wide as Wests were caught flat footed.

Wests were well matched by Cronulla’s defence, but the Sharks went to sleep at marker in the tenth minute, Rua Ngati planting the ball from dummy half to put Wests ahead, a lead that was held for all of 100 seconds as Bronson Xerri burst clear to grab his second from Cronulla’s first set after the restart.

Much to Wests’ chagrin, Cronulla came up with a ruck penalty from the restart and took the chance to grab their third try as Luke Metcalf danced his way through the Magpie line, James Roumanos grabbing Cronulla’s fourth after consecutive penalties which could, charitably, be described as kind to the visitors.

Ronaldo Mulitalo added to Cronulla’s tally seven minutes from drinks as Wests were again penalised, the left side shift catch Wests unawares, with Cronulla’s sixth try to Fine Kula off the back of Cronulla’s seventh penalty, the halftime margin 30-6.

It took the Sharks just four minutes to come up trumps on the second half, Luke Metcalf darting 30 metres from a scrum win for his second, Jaeman Salmon backing up off a break from the restart to click Cronulla over 40.

Cronulla started to turn on the niggle but weren’t called for it and, in turn, were allowed to notch their ninth try as Jensen Taumoepeau crossed out wide after a last tackle spread, Bronson Xerri touching down for his third four minutes from time to secure the result for Cronulla, but not before Freddy Kini grabbed one back for Wests.