Cronulla Sharks suffered a decisive 46-10 loss to Sydney Roosters on September 12, ending their season in the NRL finals. Despite reaching the finals for five consecutive years and making it to the second week or further four times under coach Craig Fitzgibbon, Cronulla has struggled against top-tier teams since early 2022, winning only one of six matches. The defeat showcased Roosters' superior attack and skillful play, exemplified by Mark Nawaqanitawase's double score and a behind-the-back pass that set up another try.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
### Summary of Key Points from Articles:
- NRL Finals Battle Between Wingers:
- Two wingers, Brian To'o and Greg Marzhew, are set to collide in a preliminary final, with their physical prowess likened to an unstoppable force versus an immovable object.
- Both players combine sheer power and determination, making their matchups incredibly intense.
- Marking Herbie Farnworth:
- Robert Toia of the Roosters will have a challenging task marking Penrith's star player Herbie Farnworth in Friday night's preliminary final.
- Toia’s relatives, including Salesi Foketi and Siua Wong (cousins), will also be playing alongside him.
- Roosters vs Knights Preliminary Final:
- The Roosters are set to face the Newcastle Knights in a crucial preliminary final for the chance to advance to the grand final.
- This matchup highlights the rivalry between two teams with strong histories and fan bases.
- NRL Finals Battle: Winger Showdown:
- Robert Toia of the Roosters is matched against Herbie Farnworth, while Penrith’s Brian To'o faces Newcastle’s Greg Marzhew.
- The showdowns promise to be intense battles that will determine how far their respective teams progress in the finals.
- Herbie Farnworth’s Challenge:
- Marking Herbie Farnworth is described as one of the most challenging tasks for any centre due to his skill and athleticism.
- Toia, along with other relatives, will be closely watched by fans during this crucial match.
- NRL Finals: Winger Showdowns:
- The upcoming NRL finals feature multiple key matchups involving talented wingers.
- These matches are expected to showcase exceptional physicality and skill on the field.
### Main Takeaway
The upcoming NRL finals will be filled with high-stakes battles, particularly between star wingers Brian To'o (Penrith) vs. Greg Marzhew (Newcastle), and Robert Toia (Roosters) vs. Herbie Farnworth (Panthers). These matches promise to deliver intense physical play, making them highlights of the finals series.
### Detailed Breakdown
- Unstoppable Force vs Immovable Object:
- Brian To'o (Penrith): Known for his sheer power and relentless running style.
- Greg Marzhew (Newcastle): A powerhouse winger with a formidable presence on the field.
- Their clash in the preliminary final is expected to be one of the most physically demanding matches.
- Herbie Farnworth’s Challenge:
- Herbie Farnworth (Panthers) is noted for his exceptional skills and athleticism, making him a difficult player to mark.
- Robert Toia (Roosters) will have to use his speed and agility to keep up with Farnworth.
- Family Connections in the Finals:
- Toia’s relatives are also involved in the finals, adding a personal twist to the competition.
- Salesi Foketi and Siua Wong support their cousin Robert during this crucial match.
- Rivalry Between Roosters and Knights:
- The Roosters vs Newcastle preliminary final is steeped in rivalry history.
- Both teams have strong fan bases and rich traditions, making the game a significant event for supporters.
### Conclusion
The upcoming NRL finals are shaping up to be an exciting showcase of talent, with several key matchups set to captivate fans. The battles between wingers Brian To'o vs Greg Marzhew and Robert Toia vs Herbie Farnworth promise thrilling physical contests that will determine the fate of their teams in the grand final run.
Written for “NRL Finals Roosters Vs Sharks” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Sometimes the last step of the journey to a premiership is the longest, and for Cronulla it seemingly gets longer all the time.
asserted
it → get → Cronulla
It was a year that marked their fifth finals series in a row and the fourth of those five years that have gone to the second week or beyond.
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that → mark → week
That's a hard thing to do and there's been a run of consistency under Craig Fitzgibbon that fans of many other clubs would wish for desperately.
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fans → do → clubs
They've played more finals games in these past five seasons than Gold Coast and Wests Tigers have in the past 20 years combined.
asserted
Coast → play → years
But with the Sharks the granting of that wish came with a curse, like it was made on a monkey's paw.
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it → come → paw
They are always in the mix but never seem to rise right to the top.
asserted
They → seem → top
They are good enough to be on the raggedy edge that separates triumph and tragedy but when it counts they can't quite end up on the right side.
asserted
they → separate → side
They know exactly what a premiership calibre team looks like because they get up close and personal with at least one of them nearly every year.
asserted
they → know → them
They would do anything to be like them but that glorious fate proves elusive.
asserted
fate → do → them
This defeat to the Roosters gives them one win and five losses against top four teams in the finals since the start of 2022, with the sole victory coming over the battle-weary and depleted Raiders in Canberra last year.
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victory → give → Canberra
They were already outsiders going in and the job got that much harder when Nicho Hynes was knocked out of the game after just three minutes.
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Hynes → go → minutes
Rookie Niwhai Puru did his best in relief and talismanic five-eighth Braydon Trindall did his best to carry the weight of the world, which is hard enough even when you don't have a busted shoulder.
asserted
you → do → shoulder
Trindall set up both their first half tries to keep them in the match and kept trying every trick he knew, working a lovely run around with Billy Burns in the second half that very nearly lead to a score of his own.
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that → set → own
Only a late tackle from Billy Smith forced the ball free and stopped it from being 24-16 with 25 minutes to go.
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tackle → force → minutes
A dodgy ruck penalty on Angus Crichton and a Mark Nawaqanitawase try followed, and from there it was a procession as the Roosters ran up the score with a cavalier cruelty, showing attacking gears and a raw brilliance that Cronulla does not possess.
asserted
Cronulla → follow → that
Few teams do, because few teams have players like Nawaqanitawase, who scored a fine double and helped set up another try with a behind-the-back pass that he threw as he was thrown over the sideline.
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he → do → sideline
The dual international got so close to one of the TV cameras it's a wonder he didn't up in your living room as Connor Watson finished off one of the tries of the season.
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Watson → get → season
By the end, as Daly Cherry-Evans and Robert Toia added to their highlight reels to warm up for a preliminary final blockbuster against the Dolphins next week, the Sharks looked outmatched and outgunned.
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Sharks → add → Dolphins
They were stuck in a fight where the weapons that serve them so well during the regular season — namely, a deliberate and consistent attack that converts pressure into points —were no longer enough.
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that → stick → points
On average, Cronulla run in their tries from a closer distance than any other team in the league.
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Cronulla → run → league
They had just five tries from inside their own half all season, the fewest of any team in the league.
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They → have → league
They move up the field and execute well from close range to punch it in and they are good enough at it that only three teams scored more points through the regular season.
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teams → move → season
They play the percentages well and they minimise risks and that is good enough nearly every single week of the season until it isn't anymore.
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it → play → season
There is a chance for Cronulla to revamp themselves over the summer.
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Cronulla → be → summer
Sione Katoa, a fixture of the side for almost a decade, who brought up a century of tries for them last week, is off to the Cowboys.
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who → bring → Cowboys
He'll be joined up there by Jesse Ramien, while powerful utility Siosifa Talakai is off to Perth and lock forward and former skipper Cam McInnes is heading even further away, bound for Super League side York.
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McInnes → join → York
For a team that has been extremely stable in recent years, often only losing one or two players per season, it's a lot of changes all at once.
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it → lose → changes
They don't want to rebuild, which is understandable, and most of the changes will come by promoting youngsters already at the club but it gives them the opportunity to retool a little and perhaps refresh a lot and maybe whatever changes they land on can give them the final push they need.
A little more speed wouldn't go astray, nor would some extra creativity outside the spine but wherever the change comes from it will be welcome.
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it → want → wherever
There is talent at Cronulla and tenacity and a clear and shining will to succeed, otherwise they wouldn't make the finals every year.
But to win under the brightest of lights against the best of opponents they need to find something extra, something that is missing right now, something they have not yet found but are desperately seeking.
asserted
they → be → something
They must believe it's out there, whatever it is, because it is their deliverance.
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it → believe → ?
It is the thing that will take them on that last step, the one they have been trying to take for half a decade now, the one that will give them that which seems so close for so much of the year but every September seems to elude their grasp.
asserted
September → take → grasp
The Aporia
