Match Report: NRLW Round 9 vs Sharks

The Wests Tigers have ended a disappointing campaign on the best possible note by beating the Sharks 12-10 to record a second-straight victory, which leaves their opponents now facing a nervous wait to learn if they will make it through to the NRLW finals for the first time.

In addition to squandering their chance to guarantee they'll play beyond Round 9, Cronulla had three key forwards placed on report at PointsBet Stadium and lost another two to injuries which caused them to finish the match on the sideline. 

Holli Wheeler, Talei Holmes and Vanessa Foliaki were all cited for offences during the match, with the first two also being sent for 10 minutes, while Rhiannon Byers had to be assisted from the field with 17 to play due to a knee injury. 

Lock Brooke Anderson meanwhile underwent a late HIA after suffering a knock which also appeared to impact her jaw. 

While Tony Herman's side remain in pole position to claim a playoff berth, they'll need to wait and hope the Eels don't come up with a big win over the Roosters on Sunday which could knock them out of the running. 

Conversely, knowing the wooden spoon likely awaited them no matter the result, the Wests Tigers came out firing and took advantage of the limited scoring opportunities they had. 

Superior ball control, which saw them complete at 80 percent compared to Cronulla's 74 percent which included 12 errors, was also crucial, with tries to Claudia Nielsen and Brooke Talataina either side of half-time their only four-pointers on the night. 

Conversions from Losana Lutu, who was influential in the halves, and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, made all the difference in the end too. 

Early on the visitors took immediate advantage of Wheeler's ninth-minute sin binning by scoring through Nielsen, but with key forward Sarah Togatuki ruled out by the head knock sustained in Wheeler's hit soon after, celebrations were dampened. 

While getting into scoring positions wasn't proving difficult for Cronulla, holding the ball was, but after coughing up eight errors through the first half hour – including a dropped ball over the try-line by Anderson – Cronulla finally hit back. 

A darting run from Quincy Dodd was converted by Tayla Preston to lock scores at six-apiece at the break. 

With a player in the bin once again early in the second period, it took a special individual effort from skipper Tiana Penitani, who fended off Rikeya Horne in a one-on-one battle to register the go-ahead try with 29 to play. 

But nine minutes later Talataina crossed for her first try in the NRLW and after Piliae-Rasabale nailed the conversion Brett Kimmorley's side were back in front by two. 

Despite the Wests Tigers gifting them a glut of possession in attacking territory through errors, Cronulla failed to take advantage inside the final 15 minutes and blew golden chances when Penitani spilled the ball on a promising backline move and Dodd knocked on in the lead up to a would-be try. 

It cost them in the end, with the visitors soaking up a couple of late raids to record win No.2 for 2024 and leave the Sharks to sweat it out for the remainder of Round 9.